Israel Matzav

Mofaz and Ezra behaved 'despicably'

The Knesset Committee investigating the pogrom at 'Amona' issued its preliminary report yesterday (out of fear that if Kadima Achora wins the elections, the committee will be disbanded. The Committee had sharp words for just about everyone involved (except the victims), but had especially harsh words for 'Internal Security' Minister Gideon Ezra and Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz.

The parliamentary committee charged with investigating the violence that occurred during the evacuation of eight structures in Amona some seven weeks ago released its initial findings on Tuesday.

The report harshly criticized the government, the police and the heads of the Council of Judea, Samaria, and Gaza (Yesha) for being jointly responsible for the severe violence that characterized the operation.

Committee chairman MK Yuval Steinitz (Likud) minced no words describing the decisions taken by Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz and Internal Security Minister Gideon Ezra, by which police officers would not be permitted to testify before the committee.

"I have never encountered such despicable behavior. It sets a dangerous precedent in Israeli parliamentarianism," he said.

According to the report, Mofaz and Ezra did not prepare for the operation properly, and did not coordinate their activities with the government in a satisfactory manner.

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The committee also accused Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Mazuz for "ignoring the harm caused to Knesset laws following Mofaz's and Ezra's actions.

"It is clear that Olmert did not confirm that the 'firm but sensitive' directive reached the forces in the field," said the report.

The report also accused the police of using excessive force against the demonstrators. It stated that the security forces' use of clubs and horses bordered on illegality. The committee called upon the police to change its policies regarding crowd control, and refrain from using potentially dangerous equipment.

The probe also criticized the settlers' leaders for their supposed failure to control the thousands of protesters that flocked to Amona in an attempt to prevent its destruction. Likewise, the report asserts that the results indicate an absence of law enforcement in the West Bank.

It stated that the compromise suggested by the Yesha Council, proposing to destroy the structures themselves, had not been formulated thoroughly enough, and doubted whether it could have been implemented.

Right-wing parties expressed disappointment, saying the committee should have focused more on the government's - specifically Kadima's - role in the incident.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 3:31 PM