Israel Army Occupies W. Bank Jewish Seminary after Clashes

Israel's military on Friday occupied a Jewish seminary in an extremist West Bank settlement after a series of clashes between settlers and security forces there.

"Following the recent increase in violence towards security forces, and in order to address ongoing security concerns, (the army) positioned a company of border police in the Yitzhar yeshiva building," it said in a statement.

"The structure was chosen based on security needs to prevent violence and vandalism targeting security personnel and the adjacent villages, originating from the area of the yeshiva," the army said.

The seizure order was valid until June 15.

The measure comes after 15 Yitzhar residents were arrested for allegedly stoning security forces and demolishing a military post in the northern West Bank settlement.

Israel's security establishment reacted by vowing to take severe measures.

The Yitzhar settlement called the seminary move "hysterical and historic."

"Turning a yeshiva into a military base is crossing a red line," a statement said, charging that a nearby mosque with a pending demolition order still stood and calling on the government to "leave the yeshiva immediately."

A statement from the Od Yosef Chai yeshiva itself condemned what it called the "desecration" of the holy place's sanctity.

An Agence France Presse correspondent said the army has closed off the entrance to Yitzhar, setting up roadblocks and limiting access to residents only.