An anti-settlement protest took place on the outskirts of the Evyatar outpost on Friday that was organized by left-wing groups and led by Meretz MKs. Already on Thursday, Peace Now activists put up a sign nearby that read "illegal outpost."
"We came today [Thursday] to remind anyone who forgot: Evyatar is an illegal outpost that was established by outlaws," the said. "Authorizing it as a settlement is tantamount to a surrender by the rule to criminals."
On Friday, Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan slammed the protest as a "provocation of the extreme Left" and called on security forces to stop it.
"We saw how the previous provocation between Burin and Givat Ronen ended with an IDF officer's violent attack," Dagan said in a statement.
"They come to Samaria only for provocations. Some of them violently attack security forces, and I call on and demand the Israeli police and IDF, not for the first time, to not let them come and use violence."
Soon after the protest announcement, the Evyatar yeshiva and settlement movement heads announced a day of Torah learning Friday morning to coincide with the left-wing protest. Hundreds of them have currently gathered at the nearby Tapuah junction.
Tovah Lazaroff contributed to this report. This is a developing story.