Right-Wing Politician Helped Settlers Track IDF
Likud MK and coalition chairman Ze’ev Elkin contacted right-wing activists over Israeli army movements in the West Bank, investigation documents received by Haaretz indicated on Sunday.
Earlier Sunday, five right-wing extremists were charged by Jerusalem’s District Prosecutor’s Office with tracking Israel Defense Forces operations in the West Bank in an attempt to disrupt attempts to evacuate illegal outposts.
The five allegedly formed an intelligence hub based on telephone communications, utilizing 30 different sources, including from active IDF service members.
However, the list of sources used by the activists and revealed to Haaretz indicated later Sunday that these sources also included right-wing Likud MK Ze’ev Elkin.
According to police investigation materials, an unusual movement of army forces was noted by several of the intelligence hub’s sources on Sunday, December 11, 2011.
Activists then suspected that it was the army’s intent to demolish structures in either the Ramat Gilad or the Mitzpe Yitzhar outposts, settlements which the state was obligated to evacuate due to a High Court of Justice ruling.
Eventually no evacuation took place, but records kept by the defendants indicated that in the midst of uncertainty as to the army’s movements MK Elkin reported to the group: “It isn’t Ramat Gilad.”
If indeed Elikn tipped off the right-wing activists, it would serve to affirm claims made by several of the defendants’ aides that their activity represented legitimate and open protest, in which several MKs such as Elkin took part.
In response, Elkin told Haaretz that “since I was involved in the inner workings of the Ramat Gilad affair and there were rumors that they were going to evacuate it I checked with whomever I checked with that it wasn’t true and I texted Orit Struk and [Shmron council head] Gershon Mesika about it and I think that’s it.”
For more, go to Haaretz.com
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