30 jan 2011
Four suspects under investigation for shooting during field trip near Bat Ayin. One hiker tells Ynet: 'It was a real battle'.
Police are continuing their investigation into the killing of a 19-year-old Palestinian during a settlers' trip in Gush Etzion last Friday. Police arrested two more suspects Sunday in connection with the Bat Ayin shooting.
The two, a 46-year old resident of the Otniel settlement and a 22-year-old Ashkelon resident, are suspected of being involved in the shooting and they will be brought before a court for a hearing into the extension of their remand. They join two other suspects who were arrested over the weekend and whose remand was extended by four days.
The trip was taken by a group of 40 people from throughout the country - children, teens and adults. The day trips are organized by the 'David and Ahikam' organization, which was founded in memory of two IDF soldiers Avihai Ahikam and David Rubin - who were murdered by terrorists during a hike in 2007.
Since its foundation the organization arranges day trips throughout Israel, with special attention given to the Judea and Samaria region. People are informed of when and where the trips are taking place through monthly emails.
One of the hike's participants, Shimi Prazot, 32, of Beit Horon discussed the shooting incident. "We came out of Kefar Etzion, walked to an ancient knoll and had breakfast there. Afterwards we received explanations on what we would be able to see from the lookout point.
"Then around 15-20 Palestinians gathered around us; one of them was holding a camera but we didn't think it was odd. When we finished our breakfast the tour guide led us to a nearby wadi to search for natural springs."
Panic and screaming
According to Prazot, the Palestinians ambushed them throwing stones, using live fire and charges. "The area is very steep, so when we started walking down into the wadi we were suddenly attacked by a massive barrage of rocks which were being thrown at us with a great deal of precision.
"A member of our group from Petah Tikva was hit in the head by one of those rocks. We started running down the wadi while the barrage continued. There was a great deal of panic and screaming."
Prazot added "our group included 12-year-olds, women over the age of 60, and no one had planned for a situation like that. We didn't even know where to run to." He stated that when they reached the wadi, they heard shots and explosions.
"I remember someone yelling 'they have weapons'. I asked anyone in our group who had a weapon to cover the seniors' and children's escape. I cocked my personal weapon and hid behind a boulder.
"After a few minutes I understood that it wasn't smart to stay there so I ran to where everyone else was running. Eventually we joined some soldiers and from there we continued to the entrance to Bat Ayin, where police were waiting."
Prazot points the blame at the police who, he claims, did nothing to apprehend the Palestinian shooters: "They weren't trying to seize the weapons used by the Palestinians." He says that he wasn't a witness to the incident in which the Palestinian was killed. "I heard lots of shooting; I can't know who shot what. This was a real battle, I didn't even see who threw the rocks, I just saw them landing near me," he added.
Police are continuing their investigation into the killing of a 19-year-old Palestinian during a settlers' trip in Gush Etzion last Friday. Police arrested two more suspects Sunday in connection with the Bat Ayin shooting.
The two, a 46-year old resident of the Otniel settlement and a 22-year-old Ashkelon resident, are suspected of being involved in the shooting and they will be brought before a court for a hearing into the extension of their remand. They join two other suspects who were arrested over the weekend and whose remand was extended by four days.
The trip was taken by a group of 40 people from throughout the country - children, teens and adults. The day trips are organized by the 'David and Ahikam' organization, which was founded in memory of two IDF soldiers Avihai Ahikam and David Rubin - who were murdered by terrorists during a hike in 2007.
Since its foundation the organization arranges day trips throughout Israel, with special attention given to the Judea and Samaria region. People are informed of when and where the trips are taking place through monthly emails.
One of the hike's participants, Shimi Prazot, 32, of Beit Horon discussed the shooting incident. "We came out of Kefar Etzion, walked to an ancient knoll and had breakfast there. Afterwards we received explanations on what we would be able to see from the lookout point.
"Then around 15-20 Palestinians gathered around us; one of them was holding a camera but we didn't think it was odd. When we finished our breakfast the tour guide led us to a nearby wadi to search for natural springs."
Panic and screaming
According to Prazot, the Palestinians ambushed them throwing stones, using live fire and charges. "The area is very steep, so when we started walking down into the wadi we were suddenly attacked by a massive barrage of rocks which were being thrown at us with a great deal of precision.
"A member of our group from Petah Tikva was hit in the head by one of those rocks. We started running down the wadi while the barrage continued. There was a great deal of panic and screaming."
Prazot added "our group included 12-year-olds, women over the age of 60, and no one had planned for a situation like that. We didn't even know where to run to." He stated that when they reached the wadi, they heard shots and explosions.
"I remember someone yelling 'they have weapons'. I asked anyone in our group who had a weapon to cover the seniors' and children's escape. I cocked my personal weapon and hid behind a boulder.
"After a few minutes I understood that it wasn't smart to stay there so I ran to where everyone else was running. Eventually we joined some soldiers and from there we continued to the entrance to Bat Ayin, where police were waiting."
Prazot points the blame at the police who, he claims, did nothing to apprehend the Palestinian shooters: "They weren't trying to seize the weapons used by the Palestinians." He says that he wasn't a witness to the incident in which the Palestinian was killed. "I heard lots of shooting; I can't know who shot what. This was a real battle, I didn't even see who threw the rocks, I just saw them landing near me," he added.
29 jan 2011
Palestinian medical sources announced the death of 17-year-old Yousef Ikhleil on Friday night, hours after the teenager had been shot in the head by settlers from a nearby illegal settlement north of Hebron.
The boy and a second villager were both injured, with the second casualty suffering only moderate injuries. The settler shooting incident was the second in as many days.
On Thursday, 19-year-old Uday Maher Qadous was shot and killed while he was working his land near the northern West Bank village of Iraq Burin alongside his cousin.
The Israeli military on Friday condemned both events and said settler suspects had been arrested.
"The security forces wish to condemn the two violent incidents of the past 24 hours," said a statement from Israel's Civil Administration, the military department which maintains civil control over areas labeled "area C" across the occupied West Bank.
"The Israeli police have started a thorough investigation of the events with the Israel Defence Forces and the Civil Administration, in cooperation with Palestinian Security forces," it said.
"So far, a number of Israeli settlers were arrested in suspicion of involvement in the recent events," it said, and warned both sides to keep the peace. "Action will be taken against all forms of violence on either side."
Villagers in Iraq Burin, where a 19-year-old farmer was shot the day before, reported a large military presence in the village, and said roads in and out had been partially blocked.
2 settlers suspected of killing Palestinian
The police will ask to extend the remand of two settlers, aged 29 and 24, on suspicion of shooting and killing a Palestinian youngster. The two were detained Friday.
The suspects will face a hearing at the Jerusalem Magistrate's
Palestine complains to UN over settler violence
Correction appended
Palestinian delegate to the United Nations Riyad Mansour wrote to the UN Security Council on Friday, calling for "urgent attention and serious action" following a wave of settler violence that left two dead and four injured over the previous two days.
In what was said to be the 383rd letter to the UN since 2000 over issues of rights abuses stemming from Israel's occupation, Mansour asked that details of recent deadly settler attacks against Palestinians be transmitted to the UN Security Council for consideration.
The submission of the letter comes as the council meets on the Middle East, and is expected to shortly address a draft resolution submitted by Arab States which seeks the UN condemnation of Israeli settlement construction in the occupied West Bank.
Mansour's letter outlined the shooting deaths of Uday Qadous and Yousef Ikhiel, as well as several other violent incidents the official called "brutal actions committed by Israel settlers against Palestinian civilians and their properties."
Qadous, 17, Mansour noted, was the third resident of the northern West Bank village of Iraq Burin to be killed by settlers in the past year.
"Settlers from the illegal settlement of 'Sousia' attacked two Palestinian shepherds from the town of Yatta ... with iron bars, leaving one in serious condition," in an incident Thursday, the letter detailed.
"Israeli occupying forces looked on and did nothing to stop the settlers from attacking the Palestinian shepherds," Mansour continued, adding that "Instead, the occupying arrested two Palestinians who were in the vicinity, including a photographer who was documenting the attack."
"Settler terror, harassment and destruction unabated, on a daily basis, without fear of punishment or being brought to justice for their crimes against the Palestinian people," the letter said, accusing Israeli forces occupying the area and maintaining civil control of areas adjacent to settlements, of "actually enabling their crimes through the military and financial assistance and protection accorded to them [settlers]."
The letter, addressed to current Security Council President and Bosnian diplomat Ivan Barbalic, said "Israel's settlement campaign constitutes an existential threat to the two-State solution for peace in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions, the Madrid principles including the land for peace principle, the Arab Peace Initiative and the Quartet Roadmap."
The letter stressed a deterioration in the situation vis-a-vis the settlements, reminding the UNSC leader that Israel had approved thousands of new settler homes in the West Bank, in a "blatant, relentless colonization of the Palestinian land ... in deliberate and grave breach of the relevant provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention."
(This version CORRECTS that the letter was not sent to the Government of Israel, as originally stated.)
The boy and a second villager were both injured, with the second casualty suffering only moderate injuries. The settler shooting incident was the second in as many days.
On Thursday, 19-year-old Uday Maher Qadous was shot and killed while he was working his land near the northern West Bank village of Iraq Burin alongside his cousin.
The Israeli military on Friday condemned both events and said settler suspects had been arrested.
"The security forces wish to condemn the two violent incidents of the past 24 hours," said a statement from Israel's Civil Administration, the military department which maintains civil control over areas labeled "area C" across the occupied West Bank.
"The Israeli police have started a thorough investigation of the events with the Israel Defence Forces and the Civil Administration, in cooperation with Palestinian Security forces," it said.
"So far, a number of Israeli settlers were arrested in suspicion of involvement in the recent events," it said, and warned both sides to keep the peace. "Action will be taken against all forms of violence on either side."
Villagers in Iraq Burin, where a 19-year-old farmer was shot the day before, reported a large military presence in the village, and said roads in and out had been partially blocked.
2 settlers suspected of killing Palestinian
The police will ask to extend the remand of two settlers, aged 29 and 24, on suspicion of shooting and killing a Palestinian youngster. The two were detained Friday.
The suspects will face a hearing at the Jerusalem Magistrate's
Palestine complains to UN over settler violence
Correction appended
Palestinian delegate to the United Nations Riyad Mansour wrote to the UN Security Council on Friday, calling for "urgent attention and serious action" following a wave of settler violence that left two dead and four injured over the previous two days.
In what was said to be the 383rd letter to the UN since 2000 over issues of rights abuses stemming from Israel's occupation, Mansour asked that details of recent deadly settler attacks against Palestinians be transmitted to the UN Security Council for consideration.
The submission of the letter comes as the council meets on the Middle East, and is expected to shortly address a draft resolution submitted by Arab States which seeks the UN condemnation of Israeli settlement construction in the occupied West Bank.
Mansour's letter outlined the shooting deaths of Uday Qadous and Yousef Ikhiel, as well as several other violent incidents the official called "brutal actions committed by Israel settlers against Palestinian civilians and their properties."
Qadous, 17, Mansour noted, was the third resident of the northern West Bank village of Iraq Burin to be killed by settlers in the past year.
"Settlers from the illegal settlement of 'Sousia' attacked two Palestinian shepherds from the town of Yatta ... with iron bars, leaving one in serious condition," in an incident Thursday, the letter detailed.
"Israeli occupying forces looked on and did nothing to stop the settlers from attacking the Palestinian shepherds," Mansour continued, adding that "Instead, the occupying arrested two Palestinians who were in the vicinity, including a photographer who was documenting the attack."
"Settler terror, harassment and destruction unabated, on a daily basis, without fear of punishment or being brought to justice for their crimes against the Palestinian people," the letter said, accusing Israeli forces occupying the area and maintaining civil control of areas adjacent to settlements, of "actually enabling their crimes through the military and financial assistance and protection accorded to them [settlers]."
The letter, addressed to current Security Council President and Bosnian diplomat Ivan Barbalic, said "Israel's settlement campaign constitutes an existential threat to the two-State solution for peace in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions, the Madrid principles including the land for peace principle, the Arab Peace Initiative and the Quartet Roadmap."
The letter stressed a deterioration in the situation vis-a-vis the settlements, reminding the UNSC leader that Israel had approved thousands of new settler homes in the West Bank, in a "blatant, relentless colonization of the Palestinian land ... in deliberate and grave breach of the relevant provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention."
(This version CORRECTS that the letter was not sent to the Government of Israel, as originally stated.)
28 jan 2011
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Two Palestinians were injured Thursday, by a group of religious Jews locals described as settlers from a nearby area. One man was beaten and the second shot, and said to be "clinically dead."
The shooting is the second in as many days. Spokesman for the village Mohammad Awad said that more than 150 settlers from Bay Ayin had descended from the illegal hilltop community and entered the village of Safa early in the morning. Clashes were reported between the settlers and the villagers, who told Awad that the armed religious Jews |
were using live fire against the residents.
After the start of clashes Israeli forces arrived on the scene and evacuated the settlers from the area, Awad said.
Sources in Hebron's Al-Ahli Hospital identified those injured as Yousef Fakhri Mousa Ikhleil, 17, said to be on life support after doctors treated him for gunshot wounds to the head. Murad Ikhliel, 23, was said to have sustained multiple bone fractures to his hand.
The incident comes the day after a farmer was shot and killed by settlers in the northern West Bank.
On Thursday, 19-year-old Uday Maher Qadous was shot and killed while he was working his land near the northern West Bank village of Iraq Burin alongside his cousin.
Just before one o'clock, workers from the Palestinian rights group Al-Haq recorded, Uday noticed that some of his sheep had gone missing and went to look for them in the fields nearby, and walked toward the Bracha settlement.
At one in the afternoon Uday's cousin Umar told Al-Haq that he heard a gunshot, and went to investigate. He said he waked in the same direction as his cousin, and said he saw Uday lying on the ground surrounded by four settlers holding pistols. He said he feared for his own life and hid nearby for at least half an hour before the settlers left.
When the armed settlers returned to the settlement, Umar told the rights group, he went up to Uday's body and found him non-responsive. He said he tried to carry the body for a while, but then decided to run to the nearby village and ask for help. A horse was brought to the scene and Uday's body was transported to hospital, where he was declared dead.
Al-Haq said that a preliminary medical examination showed that Uday was killed by a bullet that entered from the top left-hand side of his chest and went through diagonally to the lower right-hand side of his chest, remaining in the body, causing severe internal bleeding and bone damage.
After the start of clashes Israeli forces arrived on the scene and evacuated the settlers from the area, Awad said.
Sources in Hebron's Al-Ahli Hospital identified those injured as Yousef Fakhri Mousa Ikhleil, 17, said to be on life support after doctors treated him for gunshot wounds to the head. Murad Ikhliel, 23, was said to have sustained multiple bone fractures to his hand.
The incident comes the day after a farmer was shot and killed by settlers in the northern West Bank.
On Thursday, 19-year-old Uday Maher Qadous was shot and killed while he was working his land near the northern West Bank village of Iraq Burin alongside his cousin.
Just before one o'clock, workers from the Palestinian rights group Al-Haq recorded, Uday noticed that some of his sheep had gone missing and went to look for them in the fields nearby, and walked toward the Bracha settlement.
At one in the afternoon Uday's cousin Umar told Al-Haq that he heard a gunshot, and went to investigate. He said he waked in the same direction as his cousin, and said he saw Uday lying on the ground surrounded by four settlers holding pistols. He said he feared for his own life and hid nearby for at least half an hour before the settlers left.
When the armed settlers returned to the settlement, Umar told the rights group, he went up to Uday's body and found him non-responsive. He said he tried to carry the body for a while, but then decided to run to the nearby village and ask for help. A horse was brought to the scene and Uday's body was transported to hospital, where he was declared dead.
Al-Haq said that a preliminary medical examination showed that Uday was killed by a bullet that entered from the top left-hand side of his chest and went through diagonally to the lower right-hand side of his chest, remaining in the body, causing severe internal bleeding and bone damage.
Locals from the northern West Bank village of Iraq Burin, where a 19-year-old farmer was shot by settlers on Thursday, said large numbers of Israeli forces had occupied the area.
Villagers said no clashes had erupted, but with the funeral of the slain teenager expected to take place on Friday afternoon after the body was released from the hospital, confrontations were expected.
Earlier in the day, medical officials released the results of an autopsy, which found that the bullet which killed Uday Qadous entered his body at the shoulder from point blank range and ripped through his lung.
Qadous, a farmer from the northern West Bank village of Iraq Burin, was shot by men his cousin identified as Israeli settlers from the Bracha settlement.
Head of medicine at the hospital Ziyad Al-Ashhab had ordered an autopsy performed, and said he handed the results over to Nablus general attorney Baha Ahmad.
Autopsy on teen slain by settler completed
The bullet that killed 19-year-old Uday Qadous entered his body at the shoulder and ripped through his lung, medical officials at the Rafidyah Hospital in Nablus reported Friday.
The report said the shot entered the teen's body at point blank range.
Qadous, a farmer from the northern West Bank village of Iraq Burin, was shot by men his cousin identified as Israeli settlers from the Bracha settlement on Thursday.
Head of medicine at the hospital Ziyad Al-Ashhab had ordered an autopsy performed, and said he handed the results over to Nablus general attorney Baha'Ahmad.
Villagers said no clashes had erupted, but with the funeral of the slain teenager expected to take place on Friday afternoon after the body was released from the hospital, confrontations were expected.
Earlier in the day, medical officials released the results of an autopsy, which found that the bullet which killed Uday Qadous entered his body at the shoulder from point blank range and ripped through his lung.
Qadous, a farmer from the northern West Bank village of Iraq Burin, was shot by men his cousin identified as Israeli settlers from the Bracha settlement.
Head of medicine at the hospital Ziyad Al-Ashhab had ordered an autopsy performed, and said he handed the results over to Nablus general attorney Baha Ahmad.
Autopsy on teen slain by settler completed
The bullet that killed 19-year-old Uday Qadous entered his body at the shoulder and ripped through his lung, medical officials at the Rafidyah Hospital in Nablus reported Friday.
The report said the shot entered the teen's body at point blank range.
Qadous, a farmer from the northern West Bank village of Iraq Burin, was shot by men his cousin identified as Israeli settlers from the Bracha settlement on Thursday.
Head of medicine at the hospital Ziyad Al-Ashhab had ordered an autopsy performed, and said he handed the results over to Nablus general attorney Baha'Ahmad.
27 jan 2011
Police conclude that unidentified man killed Palestinian teen after being attacked by him, his friends. Samaria Settlers' Committee responds, 'Report proves leftists automatically adopt Arab blood libels against settlers'
Police said Thursday that a man, apparently a settler, who shot and killed a 19-year old Palestinian Thursday in the West Bank, had been attacked by a group of Arabs and was acting in self defense.
The man has not yet been identified and police are not sure of his whereabouts.
A police investigation has concluded that the shooter, who was armed with a gun, was walking alone on a path near the village of Iraq Burin when he was attacked.
The man tried to ward off his assailants, but one of them approached him with a stone, police said. He fired a single shot and fled the scene. The victim has been identified as Udai Maher Qadous.
Ynet has learned that the police are relying on testimony given by one of the Arab youths, as well as footage from an IDF security camera at the scene.
The Samaria Settlers' Committee responded by stating, "Today it was once again proven that Arab blood libels against Jews are automatically adopted by leftist organizations that incite against settlers. After it was proved that this was self-defense, we expect everyone to apologize."
Samaria Regional Council head Gershon Mesika said, "I am glad police exposed today the truth behind the Arab plot. Unfortunately these plots are usually made public in a manner that harms and libels the Jewish population."
Yitzhar spokesman Avraham Binyamin responded to the report as well. "The police announcement proves once again that the Arabs have blood on their hands. The hands of the extreme leftist organizations are filthy as well, for touting Arab blood libels," he said.
Palestinian sources presented a different version, however. They claim settlers from Yitzhar came to the village and began assaulting people. At some stage they opened fire and killed a resident, sources say.
Head of Iraq Burin's local council, Abd al-Rahim Kadus, told Ynet his version. "Udai Qadous went with his cousin to the fields near the village. The fields are located underneath the settlement of Har Bracha, and at some stage shots were fired at them from the settlement. The shots wounded him in the chest. Then the settlers came down, beat them, and fled," he said.
Jewish settlers attack village, burn citizen's car
Jewish settlers attacked the village of Einbaus, southeast of Nablus city, and burnt a car for one of its citizens before fleeing the village, local sources reported.
Well informed sources said on Thursday that the settlers, who came from Yitzhar settlement and other nearby settlements, also wrote threatening statements against the Arabs on the walls.
Yitzhar was established on land of Assira Al-Qabalia and Madma villages, south of Nablus, in 1983. Villagers and their farms in those two villages and other nearby towns have been since then the target of repeated attacks on the part of Yitzhar settlers.
Palestinians accuse settlers of torching vehicle
'Eye for an eye we won't forget' spray-painted in Hebrew near burned vehicle; small bomb found near Gilad Farm outpost.
A Palestinian commercial vehicle was set on fire overnight Thursday in the northern West Bank village of Ein Abus.
The vehicle was torched at around 3 am. The perpetrators spray-painted "Eye for an eye we won't forget" in Hebrew next to it.
Ein Abus resident Mahmoud Rian said he was certain Jewish settlers were behind the act. "This is not the first time this has happened. Settlers from Yitzhar come here whenever they are angry about something - regardless of whether we have anything to do with it and cause damage," he said, adding that the vehicle was burned completely.
Judea and Samaria Police said, "Army and police forces arrived at the scene and have launched an investigation. No suspects have been apprehended as of yet."
Meanwhile, a small explosive device was discovered on a road leading to the Gilad Farm outpost at around 2 am. Border Guard sappers detonated the bomb. No injuries were reported.
On Wednesday Palestinians from Urif in the West Bank reported that a tractor belonging to the village was torched. Messages such as "price tag Bat Ayin" and "revenge against Arabs" were found sprayed-painted near the tractor.
Civil Administration inspectors recently handed out razing orders for several buildings in the settlement of Bat Ayin, a move which may have prompted settlers to perform "price tag" attacks in the Palestinian village, situated south of the settlement of Yitzhar. Police launched an investigation.
Police said Thursday that a man, apparently a settler, who shot and killed a 19-year old Palestinian Thursday in the West Bank, had been attacked by a group of Arabs and was acting in self defense.
The man has not yet been identified and police are not sure of his whereabouts.
A police investigation has concluded that the shooter, who was armed with a gun, was walking alone on a path near the village of Iraq Burin when he was attacked.
The man tried to ward off his assailants, but one of them approached him with a stone, police said. He fired a single shot and fled the scene. The victim has been identified as Udai Maher Qadous.
Ynet has learned that the police are relying on testimony given by one of the Arab youths, as well as footage from an IDF security camera at the scene.
The Samaria Settlers' Committee responded by stating, "Today it was once again proven that Arab blood libels against Jews are automatically adopted by leftist organizations that incite against settlers. After it was proved that this was self-defense, we expect everyone to apologize."
Samaria Regional Council head Gershon Mesika said, "I am glad police exposed today the truth behind the Arab plot. Unfortunately these plots are usually made public in a manner that harms and libels the Jewish population."
Yitzhar spokesman Avraham Binyamin responded to the report as well. "The police announcement proves once again that the Arabs have blood on their hands. The hands of the extreme leftist organizations are filthy as well, for touting Arab blood libels," he said.
Palestinian sources presented a different version, however. They claim settlers from Yitzhar came to the village and began assaulting people. At some stage they opened fire and killed a resident, sources say.
Head of Iraq Burin's local council, Abd al-Rahim Kadus, told Ynet his version. "Udai Qadous went with his cousin to the fields near the village. The fields are located underneath the settlement of Har Bracha, and at some stage shots were fired at them from the settlement. The shots wounded him in the chest. Then the settlers came down, beat them, and fled," he said.
Jewish settlers attack village, burn citizen's car
Jewish settlers attacked the village of Einbaus, southeast of Nablus city, and burnt a car for one of its citizens before fleeing the village, local sources reported.
Well informed sources said on Thursday that the settlers, who came from Yitzhar settlement and other nearby settlements, also wrote threatening statements against the Arabs on the walls.
Yitzhar was established on land of Assira Al-Qabalia and Madma villages, south of Nablus, in 1983. Villagers and their farms in those two villages and other nearby towns have been since then the target of repeated attacks on the part of Yitzhar settlers.
Palestinians accuse settlers of torching vehicle
'Eye for an eye we won't forget' spray-painted in Hebrew near burned vehicle; small bomb found near Gilad Farm outpost.
A Palestinian commercial vehicle was set on fire overnight Thursday in the northern West Bank village of Ein Abus.
The vehicle was torched at around 3 am. The perpetrators spray-painted "Eye for an eye we won't forget" in Hebrew next to it.
Ein Abus resident Mahmoud Rian said he was certain Jewish settlers were behind the act. "This is not the first time this has happened. Settlers from Yitzhar come here whenever they are angry about something - regardless of whether we have anything to do with it and cause damage," he said, adding that the vehicle was burned completely.
Judea and Samaria Police said, "Army and police forces arrived at the scene and have launched an investigation. No suspects have been apprehended as of yet."
Meanwhile, a small explosive device was discovered on a road leading to the Gilad Farm outpost at around 2 am. Border Guard sappers detonated the bomb. No injuries were reported.
On Wednesday Palestinians from Urif in the West Bank reported that a tractor belonging to the village was torched. Messages such as "price tag Bat Ayin" and "revenge against Arabs" were found sprayed-painted near the tractor.
Civil Administration inspectors recently handed out razing orders for several buildings in the settlement of Bat Ayin, a move which may have prompted settlers to perform "price tag" attacks in the Palestinian village, situated south of the settlement of Yitzhar. Police launched an investigation.
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Family and friends gather to mourn Ady Maher Qadous, 19. An Israeli settler shot the Palestinian teenager near Yitzhar settlement, and he died of internal bleeding later in the day, a Palestinian Authority official said.
Palestinian security officials claim West Bank Jews shot 19 year old in village near Nablus. Settlers: Another blood libel. Palestinian security officials claimed that a 19-year-old Palestinian was shot to death by Jewish settlers on Thursday in the village of Iraq Burin, located near Nablus in the West Bank. |
According to the Palestinians, settlers from Yitzhar arrived at the village and began attacking people. At some point, they claimed, the settlers opened fire and killed Udai Maher Qadous. Palestinian medical officials who were alerted to the scene said the teenager was hit in the chest. He was evacuated to a hospital in Nablus, where he died of his wounds, the officials reported.
Iraq Burin Council Head Abd Elrahim Qadous told Ynet, "Udai walked with his cousin to the fields near the village. The fields are situated just beneath the Har Bracha settlement, and at a certain point shots were fired at them from the settlement. The gunshots hurt (Udai's) chest. Then the settlers came down, beat them and fled the scene."
The IDF could not confirm the report, and settler leaders said they had no knowledge of any shooting. "This would not be the first time the Palestinians kill one another for criminal or other reasons and blame the settlers," one of the West Bank's Jewish leaders said.
"It is a sort of blood libel aimed at promoting Palestinian interests," he said.
The Civil Administration said it had indeed received a complaint from the Palestinians, but questioned the credibility of the report, as it was not published as soon as the teenager died in the morning hours.
Earlier, Palestinians said a commercial vehicle had been set on fire overnight in the northern West Bank village of Ein Abus.
The vehicle was torched at around 3 am. The perpetrators spray-painted "Eye for an eye we won't forget" in Hebrew next to it.
Ein Abus resident Mahmoud Rian said he was certain Jewish settlers were behind the act. "This is not the first time this has happened. Settlers from Yitzhar come here whenever they are angry about something - regardless of whether we have anything to do with it and cause damage," he said, adding that the vehicle was burned completely.
Medics: Settler kills Palestinian protester
An Israeli settler killed a young Palestinian protester in the northern West Bank on Thursday, officials said.
Medics identified the victim as Ady Maher Qadous, 19. He suffered several gunshots to the chest and died of internal bleeding at Rafidiyeh Hospital in Nablus, they said.
Approximately 70 villagers and other locals had marched out toward the illegal Yitzhar settlement and were protesting when a settler opened fire, a Palestinian Authority official said.
The official, Ghassan Daghlus, who monitors settler activity in the northern West Bank, said those responsible for the killing were from the Yitzhar settlement.
Earlier, locals accused settlers of setting fire to a car near Einabus village south of Yitzhar.
Next to the torched car, Daghlas said, the settlers spray-painted in Hebrew "we won't forget the evacuation," referring to the recent dismantling of an illegal settlement outpost not far from Yitzhar, on Jan. 12.
The man's cousin, Omar Qadous, told AFP that the incident occurred as he and Uday were working farmland near their village.
He said one of a group of four settlers standing on a nearby hilltop opened fire, hitting Uday in the chest.
The Israeli military said it had received a complaint saying that a settler had shot a Palestinian in Iraq Burin and passed the information on to police.
The police had no immediate information on the incident.
A settler source in the northern West Bank told AFP he had no knowledge of the incident.
"It would not be the first time that we are blamed when these Arabs murder each other, sometimes because of family honor issues," he said.
Iraq Burin Council Head Abd Elrahim Qadous told Ynet, "Udai walked with his cousin to the fields near the village. The fields are situated just beneath the Har Bracha settlement, and at a certain point shots were fired at them from the settlement. The gunshots hurt (Udai's) chest. Then the settlers came down, beat them and fled the scene."
The IDF could not confirm the report, and settler leaders said they had no knowledge of any shooting. "This would not be the first time the Palestinians kill one another for criminal or other reasons and blame the settlers," one of the West Bank's Jewish leaders said.
"It is a sort of blood libel aimed at promoting Palestinian interests," he said.
The Civil Administration said it had indeed received a complaint from the Palestinians, but questioned the credibility of the report, as it was not published as soon as the teenager died in the morning hours.
Earlier, Palestinians said a commercial vehicle had been set on fire overnight in the northern West Bank village of Ein Abus.
The vehicle was torched at around 3 am. The perpetrators spray-painted "Eye for an eye we won't forget" in Hebrew next to it.
Ein Abus resident Mahmoud Rian said he was certain Jewish settlers were behind the act. "This is not the first time this has happened. Settlers from Yitzhar come here whenever they are angry about something - regardless of whether we have anything to do with it and cause damage," he said, adding that the vehicle was burned completely.
Medics: Settler kills Palestinian protester
An Israeli settler killed a young Palestinian protester in the northern West Bank on Thursday, officials said.
Medics identified the victim as Ady Maher Qadous, 19. He suffered several gunshots to the chest and died of internal bleeding at Rafidiyeh Hospital in Nablus, they said.
Approximately 70 villagers and other locals had marched out toward the illegal Yitzhar settlement and were protesting when a settler opened fire, a Palestinian Authority official said.
The official, Ghassan Daghlus, who monitors settler activity in the northern West Bank, said those responsible for the killing were from the Yitzhar settlement.
Earlier, locals accused settlers of setting fire to a car near Einabus village south of Yitzhar.
Next to the torched car, Daghlas said, the settlers spray-painted in Hebrew "we won't forget the evacuation," referring to the recent dismantling of an illegal settlement outpost not far from Yitzhar, on Jan. 12.
The man's cousin, Omar Qadous, told AFP that the incident occurred as he and Uday were working farmland near their village.
He said one of a group of four settlers standing on a nearby hilltop opened fire, hitting Uday in the chest.
The Israeli military said it had received a complaint saying that a settler had shot a Palestinian in Iraq Burin and passed the information on to police.
The police had no immediate information on the incident.
A settler source in the northern West Bank told AFP he had no knowledge of the incident.
"It would not be the first time that we are blamed when these Arabs murder each other, sometimes because of family honor issues," he said.
24 jan 2011
A Palestinian shepherd said Sunday that an Israeli settler killed his dog and a goat in the West Bank city of Hebron.
Hani Salamh Makhamrehm said his herd was drinking water when a settler fired four bullets into his dog at close range.
Makhamrehm said he ran away, afraid the settler would shoot him.
The man, from an illegal outpost south of Hebron, also kicked one of his goats to death, the shepherd said.
Settlers Attack Internationals Escorting Palestinians in South Hebron Hills
On Sunday, settlers assaulted internationals while they were escorting Palestinians to their pasture to graze their herds in Um al Hir , in South Hebron Hills.
Settlers threw stones and succeeded in hitting the international activists. Only the international escorts were targeted, who were specifically requested to be there due to recent tensions in the area.
One international had a stills camera stolen from him, however managed to hold on to his video camera and was able to film the event. When this international activist went to the police to file a report, the police told him that if he erased all his footage on the video camera, he would return the other camera to him.
After the incident, the army arrived and protected the Palestinian residents from settler disturbances, harassment and attacks. The grazing was completed with army protection.
Um al Hir is a Beduoin village close to Susya which has been suffering by the encroaching settlement of Carmel, which was first established in 1981 on their land and has since been closing in on them. The village was recently in Israeli news due to the army's decision to issue a demolition order on the village's Taboon, an outdoor stove used for baking bread. Apparently the stove was built without permit, and it must be destroyed.
Last Friday, settlers went to the pastures of Um al Hir to plant trees in honor of the Tu B'svhat holiday, which marks the beginning of the tree-planting season. They were escorted by large amounts of army protection.
Settlers confiscate 120 dunums of Palestinian land
Jewish settlers on Sunday seized by force more than 120 dunums of Palestinian land in Al-Khalil district and started to plow some of them, local sources reported.
In Yatta village, locals said that settlers from nearby settlement of Susya started to plow around 46 dunums of land, which were confiscated from their village.
Other settlers from Karma'il settlement planted olive trees in 80 dunums taken by force from Um Al-Khair village, south of Al-Khalil, and blocked shepherds from approaching, claiming that the land was now the owned by the settles.
The Israeli occupation forces also prevented a number of Palestinian farmers from tending to their land near Beit Ayan settlement north of Al-Khalil on Sunday, at the pretext that it was a closed military zone and summoned them for questioning.
Israel plans to build 58,000 settler homes in OJ
Gaza's religious affairs ministry expressed concern over a project to build 58,000 Jewish settler homes in occupied Jerusalem by 2020.
Meanwhile, Israel is announcing Jerusalem as the capital for Jewish people and allocating funds to attract Jews in a project dubbed Jerusalem 2020, the ministry said in a statement Monday.
The construction is aimed at pushing out Jerusalem's Arab population and making it a holy city for the Jews, the ministry added.
Settlement funds purchased two weeks earlier the Shepherd hotel under an illegal absentee property law and planned to build in its place a Jewish settlement. The property was owned by late Palestinian Mufti Amin al-Husseini.
The city's planning board discussed last week passing a plan to build the largest beyond the Green Line project to date, that will include construction of 1,400 new residential units.
The same committee had also suggested a project annexing 85 dunums of land from the northeastern Beit Hanina community.
The plan is to build a road bridging the Pesgat Zeev and Navi Yakoub settlements to ease movement from and to the western part of the city.
Religious affairs minister Talib Abu Sha'ar said it is one of the most important larger settlement projects to ease movement between Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and northeastern Jerusalem at the expense of Palestinian land and thoroughfares which have decayed after years of Judaization policies
Hani Salamh Makhamrehm said his herd was drinking water when a settler fired four bullets into his dog at close range.
Makhamrehm said he ran away, afraid the settler would shoot him.
The man, from an illegal outpost south of Hebron, also kicked one of his goats to death, the shepherd said.
Settlers Attack Internationals Escorting Palestinians in South Hebron Hills
On Sunday, settlers assaulted internationals while they were escorting Palestinians to their pasture to graze their herds in Um al Hir , in South Hebron Hills.
Settlers threw stones and succeeded in hitting the international activists. Only the international escorts were targeted, who were specifically requested to be there due to recent tensions in the area.
One international had a stills camera stolen from him, however managed to hold on to his video camera and was able to film the event. When this international activist went to the police to file a report, the police told him that if he erased all his footage on the video camera, he would return the other camera to him.
After the incident, the army arrived and protected the Palestinian residents from settler disturbances, harassment and attacks. The grazing was completed with army protection.
Um al Hir is a Beduoin village close to Susya which has been suffering by the encroaching settlement of Carmel, which was first established in 1981 on their land and has since been closing in on them. The village was recently in Israeli news due to the army's decision to issue a demolition order on the village's Taboon, an outdoor stove used for baking bread. Apparently the stove was built without permit, and it must be destroyed.
Last Friday, settlers went to the pastures of Um al Hir to plant trees in honor of the Tu B'svhat holiday, which marks the beginning of the tree-planting season. They were escorted by large amounts of army protection.
Settlers confiscate 120 dunums of Palestinian land
Jewish settlers on Sunday seized by force more than 120 dunums of Palestinian land in Al-Khalil district and started to plow some of them, local sources reported.
In Yatta village, locals said that settlers from nearby settlement of Susya started to plow around 46 dunums of land, which were confiscated from their village.
Other settlers from Karma'il settlement planted olive trees in 80 dunums taken by force from Um Al-Khair village, south of Al-Khalil, and blocked shepherds from approaching, claiming that the land was now the owned by the settles.
The Israeli occupation forces also prevented a number of Palestinian farmers from tending to their land near Beit Ayan settlement north of Al-Khalil on Sunday, at the pretext that it was a closed military zone and summoned them for questioning.
Israel plans to build 58,000 settler homes in OJ
Gaza's religious affairs ministry expressed concern over a project to build 58,000 Jewish settler homes in occupied Jerusalem by 2020.
Meanwhile, Israel is announcing Jerusalem as the capital for Jewish people and allocating funds to attract Jews in a project dubbed Jerusalem 2020, the ministry said in a statement Monday.
The construction is aimed at pushing out Jerusalem's Arab population and making it a holy city for the Jews, the ministry added.
Settlement funds purchased two weeks earlier the Shepherd hotel under an illegal absentee property law and planned to build in its place a Jewish settlement. The property was owned by late Palestinian Mufti Amin al-Husseini.
The city's planning board discussed last week passing a plan to build the largest beyond the Green Line project to date, that will include construction of 1,400 new residential units.
The same committee had also suggested a project annexing 85 dunums of land from the northeastern Beit Hanina community.
The plan is to build a road bridging the Pesgat Zeev and Navi Yakoub settlements to ease movement from and to the western part of the city.
Religious affairs minister Talib Abu Sha'ar said it is one of the most important larger settlement projects to ease movement between Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and northeastern Jerusalem at the expense of Palestinian land and thoroughfares which have decayed after years of Judaization policies
23 jan 2011
Settlers arrested in attempt to enter Joseph's Tomb
Dozens of teens try to enter holy site in Nablus without first coordinating visit with IDF, claim Palestinians threw stones. Palestinian police arrest 2, IDF arrests 6.
Dozens of settlers attempted to enter Joseph's Tomb in Nablus Saturday night, without coordinating the visit with the IDF. The attempt ended with six arrested teenage girls and settler claims of violence from the Palestinians.
At around 9 pm dozens of teens associated with the Hilltop Youth movement began marching towards the Palestinian city. A small group was stopped by IDF forces which had prepared for the teens' arrival, but 19 managed to sneak into the West Bank city through nearby villages.
The group managed to get into the heart of the Palestinian city and progressed towards Joseph's Tomb. According to the settlers, they got within dozens of meters from the tomb itself, but at some point they met Nablus residents who began throwing stones at them.
One of the organizers told Ynet that "they threw stones; the situation became more and more dangerous with every minute that passed. We were on the street where Joseph's Tomb is located and a large group of Arabs was waiting for us on both sides."
Eventually the teens managed to escape and no one was injured in the incident. In spite of not coordinating their arrival with the IDF, they teens criticized the army. "There were no forces waiting for us in Nablus as is customary. We aren't tourists who need Palestinian approval in order to enter, we demand that the IDF enable us to renew the yeshiva's activity."
Palestinian police told the IDF it arrested two of the infiltrators which were later handed over to Israel. In spite of last night's events, the teens aren't worried that the infiltration attempts will lead to casualties.
"We operate with our eyes open and are always on the lookout. The moment we identify a situation that could develop and become dangerous, we know the area well enough to escape independently," one of them said.
Settlers arrested in attempt to enter Joseph's Tomb
Dozens of teens try to enter holy site in Nablus without first coordinating visit with IDF, claim Palestinians threw stones. Palestinian police arrest 2, IDF arrests 6.
Dozens of settlers attempted to enter Joseph's Tomb in Nablus Saturday night, without coordinating the visit with the IDF. The attempt ended with six arrested teenage girls and settler claims of violence from the Palestinians.
At around 9 pm dozens of teens associated with the Hilltop Youth movement began marching towards the Palestinian city. A small group was stopped by IDF forces which had prepared for the teens' arrival, but 19 managed to sneak into the West Bank city through nearby villages.
The group managed to get into the heart of the Palestinian city and progressed towards Joseph's Tomb. According to the settlers, they got within dozens of meters from the tomb itself, but at some point they met Nablus residents who began throwing stones at them.
One of the organizers told Ynet that "they threw stones; the situation became more and more dangerous with every minute that passed. We were on the street where Joseph's Tomb is located and a large group of Arabs was waiting for us on both sides."
Eventually the teens managed to escape and no one was injured in the incident. In spite of not coordinating their arrival with the IDF, they teens criticized the army. "There were no forces waiting for us in Nablus as is customary. We aren't tourists who need Palestinian approval in order to enter, we demand that the IDF enable us to renew the yeshiva's activity."
Palestinian police told the IDF it arrested two of the infiltrators which were later handed over to Israel. In spite of last night's events, the teens aren't worried that the infiltration attempts will lead to casualties.
"We operate with our eyes open and are always on the lookout. The moment we identify a situation that could develop and become dangerous, we know the area well enough to escape independently," one of them said.
22 jan 2011
A group of farmers said they were attacked on Saturday by around 25 settlers in the southern West Bank.
The farmers said they were working on their land in Tuwani village east of Yatta, near Hebron, when settlers raided the area, protected by Israeli soldiers.
The soldiers declared the area a closed military zone and ordered the farmers to leave, they said.
An Israeli military spokesman said he was not aware of the incident.
Meanwhile, in central Hebron, a Palestinian said settlers prevented him reaching his home in Ash-Shuhuda Street.
Mufeed Ash-Sharabati said that after passing a military checkpoint installed at the entrance to the road, settlers ordered soldiers to send him back.
Ash-Sharabati said he told the soldiers he lived on Ash-Shuhuda Street, but the forces followed the request of the settlers and prevented him from reaching his home.
The farmers said they were working on their land in Tuwani village east of Yatta, near Hebron, when settlers raided the area, protected by Israeli soldiers.
The soldiers declared the area a closed military zone and ordered the farmers to leave, they said.
An Israeli military spokesman said he was not aware of the incident.
Meanwhile, in central Hebron, a Palestinian said settlers prevented him reaching his home in Ash-Shuhuda Street.
Mufeed Ash-Sharabati said that after passing a military checkpoint installed at the entrance to the road, settlers ordered soldiers to send him back.
Ash-Sharabati said he told the soldiers he lived on Ash-Shuhuda Street, but the forces followed the request of the settlers and prevented him from reaching his home.
