An Israeli settler who infiltrated the settlement of Morag in the Gaza Strip stabbed a female Israeli soldier as she tried to evacuate settlers on Wednesday. The stabbing took place outside of a synagugue in the settlement. The settler was arrested while the soldier reportedly suffered light wounds, according to Haaretz daily.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon responded to the incident and to other clashes between soldiers and settlers on Wednesday by calling on settlers to refarin from attacking the soldiers. "I want to truly appeal to everyone, not to attack the police, the women and men soldiers and police. Don't blame them. Don't make it hard on them. Don't hurt them, hurt me."
"I am responsible for this", Sharon said. "Hurt me. Blame me. Don't hurt the soldiers and police who are in any case in a state of distress."
Israeli President Moshe Katzav told reporters that Sharon meant that the settlers should criticise him, not "hurt" him.
