Samaria Regional Council head Gershon Mesika has pointed a finger at Defense Minister Ehud Barak following the violent incidents involving right-wing activists in the West Bank on Monday night.
"Unfortunately, Ehud Barak acted like a pyromaniac and set the ground on fire intentionally by trying to destroy homes in Ramat Gilad despite the advanced talks aimed at solving the issue peacefully," Mesika said Tuesday.
The Samaria Council head telephoned Ephraim Brigade Commander Colonel Ran Kahana and expressed his regret over the rioters' attempt to hurt him. "I lovingly call on our youth not to be dragged into forbidden acts even at these difficult times.
"The IDF is our flesh and blood and we love the soldiers and commanders," he added.
A source among the settlers who witnessed Monday night's incidents described the rioters as "good youth who will serve in combat units soon."
Some 300 people, some of them veiled, rioted on Road 55 near the Ramat Gilad outpost for fear that it would be evacuated. "They were there to support Ramat Gilad, but things got out of hand because of the attempt to restrain them."
According to the source, "There is no point in condemning them – it will only increase their frustration. It's like a rape victim's father will ask her to accept the situation. It just won't happen."
The right-wing activists blocked the road, hurled stones at Palestinian vehicles and even attacked the Ephraim Brigade commander's car. They hurled stones at the jeep the office was traveling in and lightly injured him and his deputy.
In a separate incident, some 50 activists broke into an IDF base in protest of the planned outpost evacuation. They set tires on fire, hurled bottles of paint and stones and damaged vehicles.
A young resident of the Beit El settlement was arrested, and the police investigation continues.
'No one understands our public'
According to the source, "This youth sees its houses destroyed, its parents murdered – and resists. It's spontaneous and unorganized. Instead of receiving support, they are condemned and called Jewish terrorists."
According to the source, the pressure on rabbis to condemn the acts won't lead to a change.
"So what if the rabbis condemn? Does it stop? It only grows stronger. The army arrives to destroy Jewish homes and this youth wants to stop it."
He called for a "real public discourse on what is happening. If our public reached this situation, an inquiry is in order. When Arabs rioted after the opening of the Western Wall Tunnels, they were not called vandals. A state commission of inquiry was appointed. But no one understands our public."
And yet, the source condemned the attack on the Ephraim Brigade commander. "What they did to him out of line. He is a good man and a worthy Brigade commander.
"And by the way, as far as I know, nothing happened to him. The deputy brigade commander got a stone in his leg and was slightly hurt."
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