Israeli unit to curb extremist settlers

JERUSALEM, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- A senior Israeli army general says he has ordered the establishment of a special unit to deal with violence by extremist settlers in the West Bank.

The Israeli daily Maariv reported Wednesday Maj. Gen. Gadi Shamni of the OC Central Command said the unit will be comprised of soldiers, Israeli police and border police.

An unnamed army officer told the newspaper violence toward soldiers dismantling illegal outposts in the West Bank and evicting settlers has increased in recent weeks. In one instance, a firebomb was thrown by settlers at an army vehicle and in another an army officer was hit in the face, he said.

"You cannot allow yourself to blink when extreme right-wingers opt to do anything that comes to their head," the newspaper quoted the officer as saying.

Another unidentified officer criticized a West Bank army commander for failing to take the necessary steps to curb the violence. "He should order soldiers to deal with the extremists more harshly on the spot and arrest them," the officer said.

Because of the situation on the ground and the harsh criticism voiced by senior army officers serving in the West Bank, Shamni decided to establish the unit, which will have power to arrest those who attack members of Israeli security forces, Maariv said.