31 mar 2011
A Palestinian citizen was killed in a cold blood when Israeli extremist settler ran over him with his car in the occupied city of Jerusalem Thursday March 31, 2011.
Israel radio said that "the car ran over a Palestinian and killed him immediately," while the victim's identity is still unknown until this moment.
Palestinian sources said that the Palestinian victim is in the thirties of age.
Israeli extremist settlers escalated their attacks against Palestinian citizens in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem during the last period, especially after the killing of an Israeli family at the hands of unknown persons in the illegal settlement of "Itamar" in mid-March, 2011.
These extremist settlers - deemed illegal by all standards of international law - are most religious fanatics who routinely kill Palestinians and destroy their property, and even attack Israeli troops in the cause to expel more and more Arabs and secure more and more land to Jews. They have no regard for any sense of rule of law or humanitarian compassion, instead they are infused with a fanatical ideology of hate and colonialism.
Israel radio said that "the car ran over a Palestinian and killed him immediately," while the victim's identity is still unknown until this moment.
Palestinian sources said that the Palestinian victim is in the thirties of age.
Israeli extremist settlers escalated their attacks against Palestinian citizens in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem during the last period, especially after the killing of an Israeli family at the hands of unknown persons in the illegal settlement of "Itamar" in mid-March, 2011.
These extremist settlers - deemed illegal by all standards of international law - are most religious fanatics who routinely kill Palestinians and destroy their property, and even attack Israeli troops in the cause to expel more and more Arabs and secure more and more land to Jews. They have no regard for any sense of rule of law or humanitarian compassion, instead they are infused with a fanatical ideology of hate and colonialism.
Israeli settlers threw stones Wednesday at a 36-year-old woman driving between Ramallah and Birzeit, who was later hospitalized.
The woman, identified as Rula Al-Qwasmy, suffered broken bones and a concussion, and was transferred to a hospital in Ramallah.
The incident comes amid a continued wave of settler violence targeting Palestinians.
An Israeli decision to evacuate an illegal settler outpost kicked off the violence, with settler groups announcing the inaction of a "price tag" policy, targeting Palestinian communities in retaliation for Israeli military action against their activities. The violence increased when Palestinians were accused of being behind the murder of five members of a settler family in the northern West Bank.
The investigation remains under gag-order in Israel, and suspects have not been formally identified.
The woman, identified as Rula Al-Qwasmy, suffered broken bones and a concussion, and was transferred to a hospital in Ramallah.
The incident comes amid a continued wave of settler violence targeting Palestinians.
An Israeli decision to evacuate an illegal settler outpost kicked off the violence, with settler groups announcing the inaction of a "price tag" policy, targeting Palestinian communities in retaliation for Israeli military action against their activities. The violence increased when Palestinians were accused of being behind the murder of five members of a settler family in the northern West Bank.
The investigation remains under gag-order in Israel, and suspects have not been formally identified.
Indictment suggests two teens sought revenge for Itamar massacre, set Arab students' cars on fire. Meanwhile, settlers outraged over police early morning raids.
Two teens from Safed have been indicted for torching two vehicles belonging to Arab students as revenge for theItamar massacre in which five members of the Fogel family were stabbed to death.
According to the indictment, Yonatan Iluz, 18, and a minor arrived at the dorms of a Safed college on March 16 and set two cars which they knew belonged to Arab students on fire and fled the scene.
Students who noticed the fire put it out, but one car was badly damaged and the tires of the other were burned.
According to the indictment, the background to the act was the terror attack in Itamar. Graffiti reading "Kahane was right" "revenge" and "price tag" were apparently sprayed in Safed after the attack.
The two deny the allegations and their attorney noted that the prosecution's case is based on circumstantial evidence.
"These are normative kids, without criminal records and from good families," Attorney Ram Shacham said.
Police raids in Itamar, Elon Moreh
Two teens from Safed have been indicted for torching two vehicles belonging to Arab students as revenge for theItamar massacre in which five members of the Fogel family were stabbed to death.
According to the indictment, Yonatan Iluz, 18, and a minor arrived at the dorms of a Safed college on March 16 and set two cars which they knew belonged to Arab students on fire and fled the scene.
Students who noticed the fire put it out, but one car was badly damaged and the tires of the other were burned.
According to the indictment, the background to the act was the terror attack in Itamar. Graffiti reading "Kahane was right" "revenge" and "price tag" were apparently sprayed in Safed after the attack.
The two deny the allegations and their attorney noted that the prosecution's case is based on circumstantial evidence.
"These are normative kids, without criminal records and from good families," Attorney Ram Shacham said.
Police raids in Itamar, Elon Moreh
Also Thursday, police detectives raided settler houses in Itamar trying to locate weapons used to fire a Palestinian man in a nearby village two months ago.
Officers also arrested Elon Moreh's secretariat director Seria Ademsky, a reserve officer. The settlers claim the police behaved insensitively and should have used better judgment. It is also claimed that a summons to the police station would have sufficed instead of early morning raids.
Shomron Regional Council Head Gershon Mesika called on Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch to intervene and discipline the police. "The police is losing control over itself," he noted and cited other incidents such as police violence in Givat Ronen and clashes in Havat Gilad.
"Samaria residents are not second rate citizens and we shall not tolerate this behavior."
MK Tzipi Hotovely demanded an urgent debate on the matter be held at the Knesset's Internal Affairs Committee.
Officers also arrested Elon Moreh's secretariat director Seria Ademsky, a reserve officer. The settlers claim the police behaved insensitively and should have used better judgment. It is also claimed that a summons to the police station would have sufficed instead of early morning raids.
Shomron Regional Council Head Gershon Mesika called on Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch to intervene and discipline the police. "The police is losing control over itself," he noted and cited other incidents such as police violence in Givat Ronen and clashes in Havat Gilad.
"Samaria residents are not second rate citizens and we shall not tolerate this behavior."
MK Tzipi Hotovely demanded an urgent debate on the matter be held at the Knesset's Internal Affairs Committee.
Settler violence swept the West Bank on Wednesday night and Thursday morning, injuring two Palestinians in Jenin and one in Ramallah, while a settler car struck a three-year-old Palestinian girl in Hebron. Nighttime Israeli military raids concluded with the arrests of four Palestinians.
In Jenin, local sources said that settlers were throwing rocks at passing cars on the Nablus-Jenin road and attacked the driver of a concrete truck, Saleh Abu Mashaykh, and his colleague Ala' Abu al-Rabb at the south entrance of Fahma village south of Jenin. Both Mashaykh and al-Rabb were both left with bruises on their heads.
Settlers from Beit Eil, near Ramallah in the central West Bank, assaulted Rula al-Qawasmi, a 36-year-old woman on the road from Bir Zeit to al-Jalzoun refugee camp.
Osama al-Qawasmi, the victim's brother and Fatah spokesman, said that the settlers pelted his car with stones and then attacked Rula with sticks, causing the injuries that required Rula to be taken to the hospital in Ramallah.
In Hebron, a car driven by a settler near the Kiryat Arba settlement close to the Old City of Hebron struck three-year-old Bissam al-Ja'bari as he played near his house. There are no other details about the incident.
Four Palestinians were arrested in midnight military raids in the southern West Bank. According to Palestinian state-run news wire Wafa, the detained were Tamer al-Haymouni, 25, who was arrested in his home Hebron after Israeli troops threw tear gas canisters and sound bombs into the house, Nidal al-Za'qeeq, 19, Muhammad al-Za'qeeq, 16, and Shahdeh Adi, 18, all from Beit Omar.
In Jenin, local sources said that settlers were throwing rocks at passing cars on the Nablus-Jenin road and attacked the driver of a concrete truck, Saleh Abu Mashaykh, and his colleague Ala' Abu al-Rabb at the south entrance of Fahma village south of Jenin. Both Mashaykh and al-Rabb were both left with bruises on their heads.
Settlers from Beit Eil, near Ramallah in the central West Bank, assaulted Rula al-Qawasmi, a 36-year-old woman on the road from Bir Zeit to al-Jalzoun refugee camp.
Osama al-Qawasmi, the victim's brother and Fatah spokesman, said that the settlers pelted his car with stones and then attacked Rula with sticks, causing the injuries that required Rula to be taken to the hospital in Ramallah.
In Hebron, a car driven by a settler near the Kiryat Arba settlement close to the Old City of Hebron struck three-year-old Bissam al-Ja'bari as he played near his house. There are no other details about the incident.
Four Palestinians were arrested in midnight military raids in the southern West Bank. According to Palestinian state-run news wire Wafa, the detained were Tamer al-Haymouni, 25, who was arrested in his home Hebron after Israeli troops threw tear gas canisters and sound bombs into the house, Nidal al-Za'qeeq, 19, Muhammad al-Za'qeeq, 16, and Shahdeh Adi, 18, all from Beit Omar.
30 mar 2011
Muhannad al-Adm Hebron PNN/Exclusive - The al-Ra'bi family lives in the village of Twana, south of Hebron in the southern West Bank, in a lasting state of panic induced by the settlers in the nearby outpost of Ma'oun, built on Twana's land. The Twana villagers can't leave and they can't abandon their sheep, their only livelihood in this land of little rainfall. Jama'a al-Ra'bi, who owns the family home, says they can only wait and hold onto their land.
Twana exists in the middle of a settler jungle. Ibrahim Awad, a boy from the village, was critically wounded here when a settler stabbed him in front of the al-Ra'bi home last week.
Israeli soldiers patrol Twana village land
Twana exists in the middle of a settler jungle. Ibrahim Awad, a boy from the village, was critically wounded here when a settler stabbed him in front of the al-Ra'bi home last week.
Israeli soldiers patrol Twana village land
Our life has become hell, said al-Ra'bi. The settlers can attack at any moment, kill our children, kill our livestock. Even though the army is next to the house they don't stop [the settlers]. They protect them. The settlers attack the farmers and the shepherds, they stop us from grazing our sheep, they detain us for long hours.
When PNN went to the al-Ra'bi home, Israeli soldiers had recently let loose police dogs near 26 villagers, most of them women and children. Human rights organizations had apparently been unsuccessful in protecting the village from attacks after the stabbing of Ibrahim Awad last week. But international volunteers were able to capture at least some of the abuses on camera. Jama'a said he wants the world to see his terror.
An Inhuman Situation
When PNN went to the al-Ra'bi home, Israeli soldiers had recently let loose police dogs near 26 villagers, most of them women and children. Human rights organizations had apparently been unsuccessful in protecting the village from attacks after the stabbing of Ibrahim Awad last week. But international volunteers were able to capture at least some of the abuses on camera. Jama'a said he wants the world to see his terror.
An Inhuman Situation
An Israeli military jeep and a Palestinian boy
Around 300 people live in Twana, which sits on a hill overlooking vast tracts of the desert. The land is dotted now with both tents and newly constructed houses, each one near the scattered stones of Palestinian houses demolished by the Israeli army. Even from its hilltop perch, Twana is no longer a fortress for its inhabitants.
The head of the Twana village council, Sabr al-Harmi, said the situation in the village is extremely difficult.
We live in caves and tents and only a few fully-constructed homes, hoping they won't be demolished, said al-Harmi. The army has distributed demolition notices for the homes, even one for the mosque because they said it lies outside the 30 dunums allocated for the village. We used to have tens of thousands. We are facing a shortage of water and continued settler attacks.
Abuses Against Students
Around 300 people live in Twana, which sits on a hill overlooking vast tracts of the desert. The land is dotted now with both tents and newly constructed houses, each one near the scattered stones of Palestinian houses demolished by the Israeli army. Even from its hilltop perch, Twana is no longer a fortress for its inhabitants.
The head of the Twana village council, Sabr al-Harmi, said the situation in the village is extremely difficult.
We live in caves and tents and only a few fully-constructed homes, hoping they won't be demolished, said al-Harmi. The army has distributed demolition notices for the homes, even one for the mosque because they said it lies outside the 30 dunums allocated for the village. We used to have tens of thousands. We are facing a shortage of water and continued settler attacks.
Abuses Against Students
School children in Twana are not spared the suffering of the village, as their school lies near the illegal settlement. Many of them have spent long hours inside Israeli military jeeps, which the Israeli army uses to protect them from settler assaults not out of a desire to see them learn, but as a result of pressure from international human rights organizations and Israeli peace activists. The ink in their pens evaporates as they wait in the baking sun for jeeps for hours.
PNN documented as the Israeli army forced school children to run the long distance from the Ma'oun settlement, screaming at them and following them in a civilian vehicle at high speeds:
PNN documented as the Israeli army forced school children to run the long distance from the Ma'oun settlement, screaming at them and following them in a civilian vehicle at high speeds:
Silwan inhabitants burnt an Israeli military post in their town, south of the Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem, at a late hour on Tuesday in retaliation to Jewish settlers' practices.
A large number of settlers and Israeli occupation police stormed the town on Tuesday night and were faced by the inhabitants.
Tension is running high in the town as locals said that groups of young men were on the watch for fresh attacks by the policemen and the settlers.
Settlers stone police in nightly clash
Police arriving at Givat Ronen to arrest resident of West Bank outpost greeted with stones, forced to send for backup, officers say. Settlers: Police behaved violently, injured three. MK compares internal security minister to Gaddafi.
Violent clashes between police and settlers broke out late Tuesday night at Givat Ronen outpost south of the West Bank city of Nablus. According to police, the settlers threw stones at the officers and damaged their patrol cars. However the residents say police used excessive force against them.
Police claim the incident began when they came to carry out an arrest warrant against one of the residents, causing dozens of people to gather around them. The rioters stoned their patrol cars, perforate the tires and caused great damage, officers said. One of the suspects snatched a vial of pepper spray and began to spray them with it, they added.
According to police, backup forces soon arrived and were also greeted with stones.
Police arrested nine suspected accused of assaulting the officers, disrupting a police operation, and causing damage to police cruisers. All suspects have been brought in for further questioning.
However the settlers involved claim police forces threw stun grenades at them and broke into their homes by force to nab suspects. According to them, the police officers behaved violently and injured three people.
About 25 families live in Givat Ronen outpost.
Following the West Bank clashes Knesset Member Michael Ben Ari (National Union) said: "Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch must remember he's not Gaddafi and that any regime that acts violently towards its citizens, beating, humiliating and punishing them collectively his days are numbered."
A large number of settlers and Israeli occupation police stormed the town on Tuesday night and were faced by the inhabitants.
Tension is running high in the town as locals said that groups of young men were on the watch for fresh attacks by the policemen and the settlers.
Settlers stone police in nightly clash
Police arriving at Givat Ronen to arrest resident of West Bank outpost greeted with stones, forced to send for backup, officers say. Settlers: Police behaved violently, injured three. MK compares internal security minister to Gaddafi.
Violent clashes between police and settlers broke out late Tuesday night at Givat Ronen outpost south of the West Bank city of Nablus. According to police, the settlers threw stones at the officers and damaged their patrol cars. However the residents say police used excessive force against them.
Police claim the incident began when they came to carry out an arrest warrant against one of the residents, causing dozens of people to gather around them. The rioters stoned their patrol cars, perforate the tires and caused great damage, officers said. One of the suspects snatched a vial of pepper spray and began to spray them with it, they added.
According to police, backup forces soon arrived and were also greeted with stones.
Police arrested nine suspected accused of assaulting the officers, disrupting a police operation, and causing damage to police cruisers. All suspects have been brought in for further questioning.
However the settlers involved claim police forces threw stun grenades at them and broke into their homes by force to nab suspects. According to them, the police officers behaved violently and injured three people.
About 25 families live in Givat Ronen outpost.
Following the West Bank clashes Knesset Member Michael Ben Ari (National Union) said: "Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch must remember he's not Gaddafi and that any regime that acts violently towards its citizens, beating, humiliating and punishing them collectively his days are numbered."
28 mar 2011
For the third time in the past month, an Israeli settler driving in the West Bank struck a Palestinian south of Hebron, but did not drive away.
Though the first two incidents were hit-and-runs, Monday's accident saw the settler remain in the area until police arrived and initiated an investigation.
The incident occurred near Tarama village west of Hebron early in the morning, as the as yet unidentified young girl was on her way to school.
Settler vandalism, harassment reported in south
Villagers said ultra-orthodox settlers chopped down dozens of fruit trees in fields belonging to a Palestinian farmer from the southern West Bank village of Husan, in the latest incident of apparent settler vandalism.
Jabir Taha Hamamra told Ma'an that he was surprised Monday morning when he walked into his fields to discover dozens of trees had been chopped down.
"I was in the fields on Thursday, and they were all fine," he said, pointing to the adjacent settlement of Betar Illit, "but I did notice that there were military vehicles in the area."
He took little notice, however, saying "there are military patrols almost every day," but then wondered if the patrols were in the area because of the settler activity.
Hamamra said 25 olive trees, two almond trees, one fig tree, and four walnut trees were destroyed by vandals.
It is not the first act of settler vandalism that targeted Hamamra's property, the farmer told Ma'an, recalling that in 2010 settlers destroyed a water well set up to collect rain water. "It was used to irrigate my plants, the ones near the settlement," he said.
Palestinian Authority official Awad Abu Swayy visited the field in Husan, and condemned the vandalism as another settler attack.
Swayy is charged with monitoring the settler activity in the area for the Ramallah-based ministry of agriculture.
"Settlers attack Palestinian land, people, trees and water reservoirs under the protection of the Israeli government, which means the government is complicit, he said.
In Yatta, a collection of towns in the southern West Bank, dozens of settlers were reported to have assaulted a group of shepherds east of the population center.
Israeli military patrols were seen near the group, which gathered in the Al-Bweib agricultural area.
Area activist Rateb Al-Habour said the patrol cars did not intervene when the settlers harassed the farmers.
Azmi Ash-Shioukhy, Secretary General of Palestinian People's Committees in the town said the increased settler violence was part of an "Israeli tactic of ethnic cleansing."
Since the end of February, seven Palestinians have been injured by settler gunfire, two have been stabbed, two have been beaten, seven have been injured by stones, at least six cars have been torched, and dozens of acts of vandalism and harassment have been reported.
An escalation in violent attacks began after the Israeli government dismantled an illegal settlement outpost on February 28. Under a professed "price tag" policy, settlers make Palestinians "pay" for each evacuation of outposts. In the past, the "price" has included arson, shootings, beatings, burning fields, uprooting trees and poisoning water wells belonging to Palestinians.
Harassment and vandalism escalated further following the murder of five residents of Itamar settlement by unknown attackers on March 11. But many of the incidents causing hospitalization occurred before.
Though the first two incidents were hit-and-runs, Monday's accident saw the settler remain in the area until police arrived and initiated an investigation.
The incident occurred near Tarama village west of Hebron early in the morning, as the as yet unidentified young girl was on her way to school.
Settler vandalism, harassment reported in south
Villagers said ultra-orthodox settlers chopped down dozens of fruit trees in fields belonging to a Palestinian farmer from the southern West Bank village of Husan, in the latest incident of apparent settler vandalism.
Jabir Taha Hamamra told Ma'an that he was surprised Monday morning when he walked into his fields to discover dozens of trees had been chopped down.
"I was in the fields on Thursday, and they were all fine," he said, pointing to the adjacent settlement of Betar Illit, "but I did notice that there were military vehicles in the area."
He took little notice, however, saying "there are military patrols almost every day," but then wondered if the patrols were in the area because of the settler activity.
Hamamra said 25 olive trees, two almond trees, one fig tree, and four walnut trees were destroyed by vandals.
It is not the first act of settler vandalism that targeted Hamamra's property, the farmer told Ma'an, recalling that in 2010 settlers destroyed a water well set up to collect rain water. "It was used to irrigate my plants, the ones near the settlement," he said.
Palestinian Authority official Awad Abu Swayy visited the field in Husan, and condemned the vandalism as another settler attack.
Swayy is charged with monitoring the settler activity in the area for the Ramallah-based ministry of agriculture.
"Settlers attack Palestinian land, people, trees and water reservoirs under the protection of the Israeli government, which means the government is complicit, he said.
In Yatta, a collection of towns in the southern West Bank, dozens of settlers were reported to have assaulted a group of shepherds east of the population center.
Israeli military patrols were seen near the group, which gathered in the Al-Bweib agricultural area.
Area activist Rateb Al-Habour said the patrol cars did not intervene when the settlers harassed the farmers.
Azmi Ash-Shioukhy, Secretary General of Palestinian People's Committees in the town said the increased settler violence was part of an "Israeli tactic of ethnic cleansing."
Since the end of February, seven Palestinians have been injured by settler gunfire, two have been stabbed, two have been beaten, seven have been injured by stones, at least six cars have been torched, and dozens of acts of vandalism and harassment have been reported.
An escalation in violent attacks began after the Israeli government dismantled an illegal settlement outpost on February 28. Under a professed "price tag" policy, settlers make Palestinians "pay" for each evacuation of outposts. In the past, the "price" has included arson, shootings, beatings, burning fields, uprooting trees and poisoning water wells belonging to Palestinians.
Harassment and vandalism escalated further following the murder of five residents of Itamar settlement by unknown attackers on March 11. But many of the incidents causing hospitalization occurred before.
Dozens of Jewish settlers assaulted farmers and shepherds and vandalized farmland as Israeli soldiers paved the way for their entry into the Buwaib area east of Yatta, Al-Khalil province on Monday morning.
The barbaric attack instilled terror and fear in the hearts of locals, said Ratib al-Jabour, the coordinator for the popular committees to resist the separation wall and settlement in east Al-Khalil.
The soldiers did not intervene to stop the repeated attacks of settlers in the area or other areas east of Yatta, he added.
Secretary-general of the Palestinian popular committees Azmi al-Shyoukhi expressed fear that the attack systematically planned by the Israeli occupation forces and settlers was aimed at evacuating the native Palestinians from the region.
He called on rights groups to save people living east of Yatta from Israel's policy of ethnic cleansing.
The barbaric attack instilled terror and fear in the hearts of locals, said Ratib al-Jabour, the coordinator for the popular committees to resist the separation wall and settlement in east Al-Khalil.
The soldiers did not intervene to stop the repeated attacks of settlers in the area or other areas east of Yatta, he added.
Secretary-general of the Palestinian popular committees Azmi al-Shyoukhi expressed fear that the attack systematically planned by the Israeli occupation forces and settlers was aimed at evacuating the native Palestinians from the region.
He called on rights groups to save people living east of Yatta from Israel's policy of ethnic cleansing.
It's Monday and, like most days ending in the letter "y," this means there have been acts of settler violence against Palestinian civilians or their property in the West Bank. To state that these events happen on a daily basis is no exaggeration. In fact, a query of our settler violence database reveals that there were 629 events last year alone (an average of 1.7 attacks per day).
Today was no exception to the rule. Maan News Agency reported that "A 32-year-old from the south Hebron hills told Ma'an he was stabbed in the chest on Monday by settlers from the Ma'on settlement." Within minutes another story came over the wire; this one reporting that "Two Palestinians were shot Monday afternoon when a settler disembarked from his car on the Jerusalem-Hebron road and opened fire on a funeral procession heading to the Beit Ummar cemetery."
Both of these attacks today took place in the governorate of Hebron in the West Bank. This district is the epicenter of Israeli settler violence and usually accounts for more settler attacks than any of the West Bank's 9 other districts. In our database, out of the approximately 3,000 settler violence events recorded, Hebron has been the locale of 31% of the events. While trends in the past couple years have indicated a shift to the north, with more and more settler violence occurring in and around Nablus and Qalqilya, Hebron continues to see more than its share of settler violence when compared to other districts. Interestingly, the settler population in Hebron is relatively low compared to other districts. So a relatively small number of settlers account for the single highest number of attacks in any governorate.
One reason for this is the unique location of certain settlements in Hebron, which include a settler population right in the heart of the Old City of Hebron that is responsible for regular violence against the Palestinian population there. Our database indicates that in the Old City of Hebron alone over the past 6 years, there have been 451 different acts of settler violence which include over 165 instances of stone throwing, over 116 physical attacks and assaults, over 30 instances of arson, over 45 instances of destruction of property, and 15 vehicular attacks which resulted in the injuring of 218 people.
But that's just in the city of Hebron. An almost equal amount of settler violence events (460) occurred inside of the governorate, but outside of the city, like the two attacks that took place today where settlers attacked Palestinians in Beit Ummar in the north of the governorate and in the Yatta area in the south. Attacks on these areas are not rare. The single village of Beit Ummar has seen at least 21 attacks in the period covered by our data, resulting in 11 injuries and one death, mostly from vehicular attacks. The area south of Yatta faces a barrage of attacks from two particularly active settlements in settler violence: Sussia and Ma'on. Combined, settlers originating from these two settlements accounted for 77 attacks, resulting in the injury of 72 civilians and inestimable damage to property.
In the north of the district, like today's attack in Beit Ummar, settlers tend to take advantage of the roads and utilize shoot-and-run tactics, or simply run over civilians with their vehicles. In the city of Hebron, attacks are far more inter-personal because of the proximity between settlers and Palestinian civilians. This is why stone throwing and beatings are so common. Often, these attacks happen under the watch of Israeli soldiers in the city. Attacks in the south, like today's attack south of Yatta, tend focus on isolated areas or villages, and targets are often schools, children or shepherds and their sheep grazing in rural areas.
While settler violence is present in all corners of the West Bank, today's attacks highlight the particular and unique challenge faced by Palestinian civilians in the district of Hebron, which face a disproportionate number of attacks from Israeli settlers on a consistent basis.
For a complete analysis of our settler violence data, check out our upcoming event on settler violence on April 19th. You can attend in person here at the Palestine Center in Washington or watch the live webcast.
Today was no exception to the rule. Maan News Agency reported that "A 32-year-old from the south Hebron hills told Ma'an he was stabbed in the chest on Monday by settlers from the Ma'on settlement." Within minutes another story came over the wire; this one reporting that "Two Palestinians were shot Monday afternoon when a settler disembarked from his car on the Jerusalem-Hebron road and opened fire on a funeral procession heading to the Beit Ummar cemetery."
Both of these attacks today took place in the governorate of Hebron in the West Bank. This district is the epicenter of Israeli settler violence and usually accounts for more settler attacks than any of the West Bank's 9 other districts. In our database, out of the approximately 3,000 settler violence events recorded, Hebron has been the locale of 31% of the events. While trends in the past couple years have indicated a shift to the north, with more and more settler violence occurring in and around Nablus and Qalqilya, Hebron continues to see more than its share of settler violence when compared to other districts. Interestingly, the settler population in Hebron is relatively low compared to other districts. So a relatively small number of settlers account for the single highest number of attacks in any governorate.
One reason for this is the unique location of certain settlements in Hebron, which include a settler population right in the heart of the Old City of Hebron that is responsible for regular violence against the Palestinian population there. Our database indicates that in the Old City of Hebron alone over the past 6 years, there have been 451 different acts of settler violence which include over 165 instances of stone throwing, over 116 physical attacks and assaults, over 30 instances of arson, over 45 instances of destruction of property, and 15 vehicular attacks which resulted in the injuring of 218 people.
But that's just in the city of Hebron. An almost equal amount of settler violence events (460) occurred inside of the governorate, but outside of the city, like the two attacks that took place today where settlers attacked Palestinians in Beit Ummar in the north of the governorate and in the Yatta area in the south. Attacks on these areas are not rare. The single village of Beit Ummar has seen at least 21 attacks in the period covered by our data, resulting in 11 injuries and one death, mostly from vehicular attacks. The area south of Yatta faces a barrage of attacks from two particularly active settlements in settler violence: Sussia and Ma'on. Combined, settlers originating from these two settlements accounted for 77 attacks, resulting in the injury of 72 civilians and inestimable damage to property.
In the north of the district, like today's attack in Beit Ummar, settlers tend to take advantage of the roads and utilize shoot-and-run tactics, or simply run over civilians with their vehicles. In the city of Hebron, attacks are far more inter-personal because of the proximity between settlers and Palestinian civilians. This is why stone throwing and beatings are so common. Often, these attacks happen under the watch of Israeli soldiers in the city. Attacks in the south, like today's attack south of Yatta, tend focus on isolated areas or villages, and targets are often schools, children or shepherds and their sheep grazing in rural areas.
While settler violence is present in all corners of the West Bank, today's attacks highlight the particular and unique challenge faced by Palestinian civilians in the district of Hebron, which face a disproportionate number of attacks from Israeli settlers on a consistent basis.
For a complete analysis of our settler violence data, check out our upcoming event on settler violence on April 19th. You can attend in person here at the Palestine Center in Washington or watch the live webcast.
27 mar 2011
Jewish settlers from Ali Zahav settlement on Saturday morning uprooted about 21 olive trees in Deir Ballut town west of Salfit city.
Head of the municipal council in the town Ahmed Mustafa said the settlers uprooted olive trees east of Deir Ballut belonging to a Palestinian citizen called Sami Ibraheem.
Mustafa added that the settlers destroy and flatten Palestinian agricultural lands around Ali Zahav settlement in order to expand it and build new housing units.
All villages and towns of Salfit city are facing a frenzied settlement expansion campaign aimed at expanding 20 settlement outposts already built on Palestinian lands.
Head of the municipal council in the town Ahmed Mustafa said the settlers uprooted olive trees east of Deir Ballut belonging to a Palestinian citizen called Sami Ibraheem.
Mustafa added that the settlers destroy and flatten Palestinian agricultural lands around Ali Zahav settlement in order to expand it and build new housing units.
All villages and towns of Salfit city are facing a frenzied settlement expansion campaign aimed at expanding 20 settlement outposts already built on Palestinian lands.
Zvi Struck
Court sentences Zvi Struck, who kidnapped, injured 15-year-old Palestinian in 2007, to 18 months in prison. 'I cannot avoid expressing disgust, deep shock over the signs of trauma the minor suffered,' Judge in case says.
The Jerusalem District Court sentenced Zvi Struck, a 28-year-old resident of the Shilo settlement, to 18 months in prison for kidnapping and abusing a 15-year-old Palestinian boy.
Struck was convicted on the charges of aggravated battery, kidnapping with intention to injure, causing damage and three counts of assault. In addition to the prison term, the court sentenced him to one year of probation, and ordered him to pay the victim NIS 50,000 ($14,100) in compensation.
"There is no doubt that the actions harmed the complainant, who was 15 at the time, in a grievous manner," Judge Amnon Cohen noted.
"I reviewed the medical records and the difficult photographs that were taken of the complainant immediately after the event, and I cannot avoid expressing disgust and deep shock over the signs of terrible trauma that the minor suffered."
The incident took place in July 2007; Struck and another suspect kidnapped and beat the Palestinian teen, a resident of the West Bank village of Kusra. The teen was later found unconscious in an open field, naked, tied and injured, after making it to a main road on his own. Passersby rushed him to a hospital in nearby Nablus.
In addition to the assault, Struck was also convicted for a previous incident, during which he met with the teen on the outskirts of Kusra and demanded him to leave the area claiming he was trespassing on his land.
At that time he slapped the teen, and killed a newborn goat by kicking it.
"The character testimonies that I heard are not in line with the difficult actions that the accused committed," Cohen wrote. "Any punishment that does not include a prison sentence will not send the message that must come out of this court, considering the severity of his actions."
'Judge chose terrorist's version'
Court sentences Zvi Struck, who kidnapped, injured 15-year-old Palestinian in 2007, to 18 months in prison. 'I cannot avoid expressing disgust, deep shock over the signs of trauma the minor suffered,' Judge in case says.
The Jerusalem District Court sentenced Zvi Struck, a 28-year-old resident of the Shilo settlement, to 18 months in prison for kidnapping and abusing a 15-year-old Palestinian boy.
Struck was convicted on the charges of aggravated battery, kidnapping with intention to injure, causing damage and three counts of assault. In addition to the prison term, the court sentenced him to one year of probation, and ordered him to pay the victim NIS 50,000 ($14,100) in compensation.
"There is no doubt that the actions harmed the complainant, who was 15 at the time, in a grievous manner," Judge Amnon Cohen noted.
"I reviewed the medical records and the difficult photographs that were taken of the complainant immediately after the event, and I cannot avoid expressing disgust and deep shock over the signs of terrible trauma that the minor suffered."
The incident took place in July 2007; Struck and another suspect kidnapped and beat the Palestinian teen, a resident of the West Bank village of Kusra. The teen was later found unconscious in an open field, naked, tied and injured, after making it to a main road on his own. Passersby rushed him to a hospital in nearby Nablus.
In addition to the assault, Struck was also convicted for a previous incident, during which he met with the teen on the outskirts of Kusra and demanded him to leave the area claiming he was trespassing on his land.
At that time he slapped the teen, and killed a newborn goat by kicking it.
"The character testimonies that I heard are not in line with the difficult actions that the accused committed," Cohen wrote. "Any punishment that does not include a prison sentence will not send the message that must come out of this court, considering the severity of his actions."
'Judge chose terrorist's version'
Struck is the son of right-wing activist Orit Struck, the chairman of the Human Rights Organization of Judea and Samaria.
"The fact that Judge Cohen chose the Arabs' version even though the primary witness is a terrorist, over the version of Zviki, an honest farmer, is appalling, insulting, erroneous and hostile," Orit Struck said. "The court very easily skipped over the discrepancies in the testimonies of the witnesses, and was determined to convict my son, who didn't do anything."
She also claimed that the fact that she is a prominent figure in the Hebron settlements has motivated the elements involved in the case to convict her son. "We are paying a price for being loyal to Israel and working for its benefit."
Zvi Struck insisted during the trial that he did not know the complainants and asserted that they were trying to incriminate him because they claim that he took over their lands.
Upon hearing the sentence, Struck's attorney Haim Cohen motioned the court to hold off implementing the sentence until a verdict is reached in the appeal, which he plans to file with the Supreme Court. The judge accepted the request, with the prosecution's consent. "We still claim that Struck is innocent, and hope that the Supreme Court proves his innocence." Cohen said.
Representatives of Yesh Din, a human right organization that tracks the authorities' handling of crimes perpetrated by Israelis against Palestinians and their property, said that this is a rare case in which the investigation and prosecution elements succeeded to convict the attacker on serious charges.
According to the organization's data, about 90% of the complaints filed by Palestinians against Israeli citizens end up dismissed for reason that point to the failure of the investigators, including insufficient evidence and unidentified suspects.
The victim's father expressed contentment with the verdict.
"The fact that Judge Cohen chose the Arabs' version even though the primary witness is a terrorist, over the version of Zviki, an honest farmer, is appalling, insulting, erroneous and hostile," Orit Struck said. "The court very easily skipped over the discrepancies in the testimonies of the witnesses, and was determined to convict my son, who didn't do anything."
She also claimed that the fact that she is a prominent figure in the Hebron settlements has motivated the elements involved in the case to convict her son. "We are paying a price for being loyal to Israel and working for its benefit."
Zvi Struck insisted during the trial that he did not know the complainants and asserted that they were trying to incriminate him because they claim that he took over their lands.
Upon hearing the sentence, Struck's attorney Haim Cohen motioned the court to hold off implementing the sentence until a verdict is reached in the appeal, which he plans to file with the Supreme Court. The judge accepted the request, with the prosecution's consent. "We still claim that Struck is innocent, and hope that the Supreme Court proves his innocence." Cohen said.
Representatives of Yesh Din, a human right organization that tracks the authorities' handling of crimes perpetrated by Israelis against Palestinians and their property, said that this is a rare case in which the investigation and prosecution elements succeeded to convict the attacker on serious charges.
According to the organization's data, about 90% of the complaints filed by Palestinians against Israeli citizens end up dismissed for reason that point to the failure of the investigators, including insufficient evidence and unidentified suspects.
The victim's father expressed contentment with the verdict.
25 mar 2011
Settlers from the illegal settlement of Miskiyut, protected by Israeli soldiers, installed a barbed wire fence around a Palestinian home on Thursday.
The settlers barred residents from moving inside or outside the house while installing the fence around the barns of sheep and cows there, according to Palestinian and international peace activists who were also barred from the home.
The owner of the house, Nabil Mutawe, told Ma'an that settlers made death threats against his family.
Head of the village council of Al-Beida Mustafa Al-Fuqaha appealed to human rights organizations to urgently intervene to rescue the family noting that the settlers had previously attacked Palestinians in the area.
Israeli forces demolish Palestinian tent in Tubas
Israeli forces on Friday demolished a tent belonging to Palestinians in the northern West Bank, a day after Israeli settlers erected a tent in the same area.
On Thursday, residents of the illegal Maskiot settlement put up a tent by the Ein Al-Helwa village, north of the Jordan Valley, on land belonging to Nabil Daraghmeh.
Settlers installed barbed wire around the tent, put up Israeli flags and chanted slogans demanding the expulsion of all Palestinians, locals said.
On Friday, Israeli authorities arrived in the village and demolished the tent belonging to Palestinians, but left the settlers' tent standing, witnesses said.
Palestinian and foreign nationals were detained while protesting the demolition and taken to an unknown location.
The settlers barred residents from moving inside or outside the house while installing the fence around the barns of sheep and cows there, according to Palestinian and international peace activists who were also barred from the home.
The owner of the house, Nabil Mutawe, told Ma'an that settlers made death threats against his family.
Head of the village council of Al-Beida Mustafa Al-Fuqaha appealed to human rights organizations to urgently intervene to rescue the family noting that the settlers had previously attacked Palestinians in the area.
Israeli forces demolish Palestinian tent in Tubas
Israeli forces on Friday demolished a tent belonging to Palestinians in the northern West Bank, a day after Israeli settlers erected a tent in the same area.
On Thursday, residents of the illegal Maskiot settlement put up a tent by the Ein Al-Helwa village, north of the Jordan Valley, on land belonging to Nabil Daraghmeh.
Settlers installed barbed wire around the tent, put up Israeli flags and chanted slogans demanding the expulsion of all Palestinians, locals said.
On Friday, Israeli authorities arrived in the village and demolished the tent belonging to Palestinians, but left the settlers' tent standing, witnesses said.
Palestinian and foreign nationals were detained while protesting the demolition and taken to an unknown location.
24 mar 2011
A 30-year-old Nablus man was accosted by a group of settlers Wednesday night, and hospitalized by a subsequent attack, medics reported.
Traveling south of Nablus, Iyad Azzam told Red Crescent medics that he believed residents of the illegal settlement of Yitzhar were behind the attack.
He remains in moderate condition at the Rafidya Hospital in Nablus.
The attack is the latest report of violence carried out by settler against Palestinian civilians.
Since the end of February, seven Palestinians have been injured by settler gunfire, two have been stabbed, two have been beaten, seven have been injured by stones, at least six cars have been torched, and dozens of acts of vandalism and harassment have been reported.
The upticks in settler violence came after Israeli soldiers demolished an illegal outpost built on privately owned Palestinian lands, and in the wake of the brutal murder of five members of a settler family in Itamar, which included the stabbing deaths of two children and an infant. A suspect has yet to be identified by Israeli police, though officials pointed the finger at Palestinian militant groups, who denied involvement.
Traveling south of Nablus, Iyad Azzam told Red Crescent medics that he believed residents of the illegal settlement of Yitzhar were behind the attack.
He remains in moderate condition at the Rafidya Hospital in Nablus.
The attack is the latest report of violence carried out by settler against Palestinian civilians.
Since the end of February, seven Palestinians have been injured by settler gunfire, two have been stabbed, two have been beaten, seven have been injured by stones, at least six cars have been torched, and dozens of acts of vandalism and harassment have been reported.
The upticks in settler violence came after Israeli soldiers demolished an illegal outpost built on privately owned Palestinian lands, and in the wake of the brutal murder of five members of a settler family in Itamar, which included the stabbing deaths of two children and an infant. A suspect has yet to be identified by Israeli police, though officials pointed the finger at Palestinian militant groups, who denied involvement.
23 mar 2011
The suicide of a settler in the northern West Bank saw Israeli forces close down several checkpoints, implement intensive checks and road closures, during the initial stages of investigation into the death.
Israeli media reported that a dead body was found in a settlement, while Palestinian sources said unidentified settler shot himself in the head near the entrance to Revava, a settlement in the Ariel bloc south of Palestinian villages Deir Istiya and Kifl Haris in the Salfit district.
An Israeli military spokesman confirmed the suicide, and a spokeswoman said closures were enforced until the nature of the death had been determined.
Mayor of Deir Istiya Nathmi Suleiman said the roads were closed shortly after 1 p.m., and checkpoints around the area were shut down, with increased inspection procedures in place at the Huwwara checkpoint.
The checkpoints and road closures were removed shortly before 4 p.m.
The Israeli news daily Ynet said medics and police were at the settlement to investigate the incident.
Tensions remain high in Nablus since the March 11 murder of five members of a settler family by unknown assailants. Israeli officials pointed to Palestinian militant groups, but the act -- which saw five stabbed to death including an infant and two children -- went unclaimed.
The village of Awarta, near the Itamar settlement where the murders took place, was under lock down for five days after the deaths, and placed again under curfew on Tuesday.
Israeli media reported that a dead body was found in a settlement, while Palestinian sources said unidentified settler shot himself in the head near the entrance to Revava, a settlement in the Ariel bloc south of Palestinian villages Deir Istiya and Kifl Haris in the Salfit district.
An Israeli military spokesman confirmed the suicide, and a spokeswoman said closures were enforced until the nature of the death had been determined.
Mayor of Deir Istiya Nathmi Suleiman said the roads were closed shortly after 1 p.m., and checkpoints around the area were shut down, with increased inspection procedures in place at the Huwwara checkpoint.
The checkpoints and road closures were removed shortly before 4 p.m.
The Israeli news daily Ynet said medics and police were at the settlement to investigate the incident.
Tensions remain high in Nablus since the March 11 murder of five members of a settler family by unknown assailants. Israeli officials pointed to Palestinian militant groups, but the act -- which saw five stabbed to death including an infant and two children -- went unclaimed.
The village of Awarta, near the Itamar settlement where the murders took place, was under lock down for five days after the deaths, and placed again under curfew on Tuesday.
20 mar 2011
Settlers on Tuesday destroyed agricultural land owned by Palestinian villagers near Nablus in the northern West Bank.
The Agricultural Work Committees Union recently planted hundreds of seedlings on the land around Aqraba village.
Residents of the illegal Itamar settlement uprooted the seedlings and destroyed water wells in the area, the union said.
The union appealed to international organizations to intervene and protect Paelstinians and their properties from escalating settler violence.
The Agricultural Work Committees Union recently planted hundreds of seedlings on the land around Aqraba village.
Residents of the illegal Itamar settlement uprooted the seedlings and destroyed water wells in the area, the union said.
The union appealed to international organizations to intervene and protect Paelstinians and their properties from escalating settler violence.
Since the end of February, seven Palestinians have been injured by settler gunfire, two have been stabbed, two have been beaten, seven have been injured by stones, at least six cars have been torched, and dozens of acts of vandalism and harassment have been reported.
An escalation in violent attacks began after the Israeli government dismantled an illegal settlement outpost on February 28. Under a professed "price tag" policy, settlers make Palestinians "pay" for each evacuation of outposts. In the past, the "price" has included arson, shootings, beatings, burning fields, uprooting trees and poisoning water wells belonging to Palestinians.
Harassment and vandalism escalated further following the murder of five residents of Itamar settlement by unknown attackers on March 11. But many of the incidents causing hospitalization occurred before.
Below is a summary of reported settler violence over the past month.
23 Feb
-Villagers say settlers torched two cars in Burin, south of Nablus, and threw a Molotov Cocktail at a home east of the area.
26 Feb
-PA monitor says settlers attempt to burn down a Palestinian home in Burin and torched a car. Israeli forces arrive and send the settlers away.
27 Feb
-Medics say an 11-year-old girl is run over by a settler car at the Beit Ainun junction in Hebron. She is transferred for treatment in Israel.
28 Feb
-Israeli forces dismantle illegal outpost. Israeli government puts through law to demolish six outposts, while legalizing dozens of others.
-Settlers block streets in West Bank, clash with Israeli police.
-A warning is issued to Palestinians to avoid areas where settlers gather for their own safety.
-PA monitor says settlers set fire to a Palestinian home, injuring two children, and attack Palestinian cars around Nablus.
-Near Ramallah, clashes erupt in Nabi Salih after Hallamish settlers tried to enter the village, locals said. Residents set fire to rubber tires to stop the settlers entering. Israeli forces intervene and the settlers return to the settlement, officials say.
1 March
-In Hebron's Old City, a settler hits a child with his car and flees the scene, witnesses say. The boy is evacuated to the Al-Mizan Hospital in Hebron where medics said his wounds are moderate.
3 March
-Settler-supporters block roads, train tracks outside of Jerusalem. West Bank on high alert as Israeli forces fear settler violence after groups announce "day of rage."
-Settler youth groups hand out pamphlets to diplomats to "go home" and ""Face the facts! We never will make peace with Palestinian terrorists!
-"You are guests in our country! You are standing on the Holy Land! Of the Jewish nation! Do not interfere with the building of our country: The meddling by the American government and by the European Union, is putting your stay at risk!"
4 March
-Some 500 olive trees chopped down in the village of Qusra, in the northern West Bank region of Nablus, PA monitor says. Villagers believe residents of the illegal Shvut Rachel are behind the vandalism.
6 March
-Hundreds of settlers gather near the central West Bank village of An-Nabi Saleh in the Ramallah district, locals report, adding that villagers set fire to used tires at the village entrance fearing settlers might enter. Israeli forces deploy in the area to intervene.
7 March
-Three injured by settler fire in the As-Sawiya village south of Nablus, PA monitor says. Dozens of residents of the illegal Yesh Adam outpost attack the village, according to the report, and open fire. Palestinian ambulances unable to reach the village as settlers block the roads.
-At least ten Palestinians and an Israeli settler are wounded when settlers enter the northern West Bank village of Qusra and fire on residents. A 13-year-old boy is shot in his torso and badly injured.
11 March
-Shortly before midnight, five members of the Fogel family are killed in their beds in the illegal West Bank settlement of Itamar. Israeli forces blame Palestinian militant groups, though none claim responsibility for the murders.
-Among the dead are two children and an infant.
12 March
-An unknown number of residents from the village of Awarta are injured as Israeli forces lock down the area under a military curfew that will last five days.
-Ambulance crews admitted to the area say they treated at least two for dog bites, several from broken bones following a settler attack, and some say they were beaten by Israeli forces.
-Also in the Nablus region, scores of settlers enter the home of one Burin resident and attempt to kidnap two children, residents say.
-Local officials blame residents of the illegal Bracha settlement.
-In the Nablus region, Huwwara residents are harassed by settlers who attempt to enter village.
-South of Hebron, police say settlers threw rocks at a Palestinian Authority civil defense vehicle, smashing the wind screen and injuring the driver.
-In the central West Bank village of Beitillu, residents say settlers hand out leaflets threatening residents that their lives are at risk.
13 March
-Settler harassment and vandalism are reported in the following villages:
-Hebron district: Tel Rumeida, Beit Ummar , Al-Arrub refugee camp.
-Central: Nabi Salih
-North: Jerusalem Nablus road, Huwwara
-Za'tara checkpoint south of Nablus is closed, and the main road between Nablus and Qalqiliya is shut down after dozens of settlers attack Palestinian cars. The Qalandia checkpoint between Ramallah and Jerusalem closes in both directions for "security reasons," Israeli authorities say.
March 14
-Settlers seen setting fire to an agricultural field north of Ramallah, while a mob enters a town east of Qalqiliya and sets fire to civilian vehicles.
-In the central West Bank town of Dura Al-Qar%u2019a north of Ramallah, two more vehicles are reported to have been torched.
-Masked settlers enter Awarta village, throw bottles, rocks at residents.
15 March
-Some 200 settlers from the Kedumim settlement, five kilometers west of Nablus, demonstrate on the main road leading north, hurling stones at passing Palestinian cars. Similar incidents are reported in two other areas of the northern West Bank.
-Settlers torch two Palestinian cars just north of Al-Bireh near Ramallah.
-South of Hebron, an Israeli settler guns down a Palestinian car on the road near Bani Na'im causing severe damage to the car but no injuries.
17 March
-Two Palestinian construction workers are stabbed by masked settlers in the Shilo settlement, en route to work in the area's industrial zone.
-Acts of vandalism reported in Nablus district.
18 March
-A 35-year-old Huwwara resident is hospitalized in Nablus after being beaten by residents of the Yitzhar settlement, he says.
-A taxi driver says settlers stone him near Nablus.
19 March
-A man is dragged from his car and beaten by settlers near Nablus. The incident occurs near the Yitzhar settlement. He is hospitalized.
21 March
-A 32-year-old from the south Hebron hills is stabbed in the chest while en route to a clinic in Yatta. Witnesses say the perpetrator is a settler from the Havat Ma'on settlement.
--Two Palestinians are shot in the southern West Bank town of Beit Ummar, when a settler opens fire on a funeral procession.
22 March
Settlers uproot hundreds of newly planted seedlings and destroy water wells on land belonging to Aqraba villagers in Nablus, agricultural union says.
An escalation in violent attacks began after the Israeli government dismantled an illegal settlement outpost on February 28. Under a professed "price tag" policy, settlers make Palestinians "pay" for each evacuation of outposts. In the past, the "price" has included arson, shootings, beatings, burning fields, uprooting trees and poisoning water wells belonging to Palestinians.
Harassment and vandalism escalated further following the murder of five residents of Itamar settlement by unknown attackers on March 11. But many of the incidents causing hospitalization occurred before.
Below is a summary of reported settler violence over the past month.
23 Feb
-Villagers say settlers torched two cars in Burin, south of Nablus, and threw a Molotov Cocktail at a home east of the area.
26 Feb
-PA monitor says settlers attempt to burn down a Palestinian home in Burin and torched a car. Israeli forces arrive and send the settlers away.
27 Feb
-Medics say an 11-year-old girl is run over by a settler car at the Beit Ainun junction in Hebron. She is transferred for treatment in Israel.
28 Feb
-Israeli forces dismantle illegal outpost. Israeli government puts through law to demolish six outposts, while legalizing dozens of others.
-Settlers block streets in West Bank, clash with Israeli police.
-A warning is issued to Palestinians to avoid areas where settlers gather for their own safety.
-PA monitor says settlers set fire to a Palestinian home, injuring two children, and attack Palestinian cars around Nablus.
-Near Ramallah, clashes erupt in Nabi Salih after Hallamish settlers tried to enter the village, locals said. Residents set fire to rubber tires to stop the settlers entering. Israeli forces intervene and the settlers return to the settlement, officials say.
1 March
-In Hebron's Old City, a settler hits a child with his car and flees the scene, witnesses say. The boy is evacuated to the Al-Mizan Hospital in Hebron where medics said his wounds are moderate.
3 March
-Settler-supporters block roads, train tracks outside of Jerusalem. West Bank on high alert as Israeli forces fear settler violence after groups announce "day of rage."
-Settler youth groups hand out pamphlets to diplomats to "go home" and ""Face the facts! We never will make peace with Palestinian terrorists!
-"You are guests in our country! You are standing on the Holy Land! Of the Jewish nation! Do not interfere with the building of our country: The meddling by the American government and by the European Union, is putting your stay at risk!"
4 March
-Some 500 olive trees chopped down in the village of Qusra, in the northern West Bank region of Nablus, PA monitor says. Villagers believe residents of the illegal Shvut Rachel are behind the vandalism.
6 March
-Hundreds of settlers gather near the central West Bank village of An-Nabi Saleh in the Ramallah district, locals report, adding that villagers set fire to used tires at the village entrance fearing settlers might enter. Israeli forces deploy in the area to intervene.
7 March
-Three injured by settler fire in the As-Sawiya village south of Nablus, PA monitor says. Dozens of residents of the illegal Yesh Adam outpost attack the village, according to the report, and open fire. Palestinian ambulances unable to reach the village as settlers block the roads.
-At least ten Palestinians and an Israeli settler are wounded when settlers enter the northern West Bank village of Qusra and fire on residents. A 13-year-old boy is shot in his torso and badly injured.
11 March
-Shortly before midnight, five members of the Fogel family are killed in their beds in the illegal West Bank settlement of Itamar. Israeli forces blame Palestinian militant groups, though none claim responsibility for the murders.
-Among the dead are two children and an infant.
12 March
-An unknown number of residents from the village of Awarta are injured as Israeli forces lock down the area under a military curfew that will last five days.
-Ambulance crews admitted to the area say they treated at least two for dog bites, several from broken bones following a settler attack, and some say they were beaten by Israeli forces.
-Also in the Nablus region, scores of settlers enter the home of one Burin resident and attempt to kidnap two children, residents say.
-Local officials blame residents of the illegal Bracha settlement.
-In the Nablus region, Huwwara residents are harassed by settlers who attempt to enter village.
-South of Hebron, police say settlers threw rocks at a Palestinian Authority civil defense vehicle, smashing the wind screen and injuring the driver.
-In the central West Bank village of Beitillu, residents say settlers hand out leaflets threatening residents that their lives are at risk.
13 March
-Settler harassment and vandalism are reported in the following villages:
-Hebron district: Tel Rumeida, Beit Ummar , Al-Arrub refugee camp.
-Central: Nabi Salih
-North: Jerusalem Nablus road, Huwwara
-Za'tara checkpoint south of Nablus is closed, and the main road between Nablus and Qalqiliya is shut down after dozens of settlers attack Palestinian cars. The Qalandia checkpoint between Ramallah and Jerusalem closes in both directions for "security reasons," Israeli authorities say.
March 14
-Settlers seen setting fire to an agricultural field north of Ramallah, while a mob enters a town east of Qalqiliya and sets fire to civilian vehicles.
-In the central West Bank town of Dura Al-Qar%u2019a north of Ramallah, two more vehicles are reported to have been torched.
-Masked settlers enter Awarta village, throw bottles, rocks at residents.
15 March
-Some 200 settlers from the Kedumim settlement, five kilometers west of Nablus, demonstrate on the main road leading north, hurling stones at passing Palestinian cars. Similar incidents are reported in two other areas of the northern West Bank.
-Settlers torch two Palestinian cars just north of Al-Bireh near Ramallah.
-South of Hebron, an Israeli settler guns down a Palestinian car on the road near Bani Na'im causing severe damage to the car but no injuries.
17 March
-Two Palestinian construction workers are stabbed by masked settlers in the Shilo settlement, en route to work in the area's industrial zone.
-Acts of vandalism reported in Nablus district.
18 March
-A 35-year-old Huwwara resident is hospitalized in Nablus after being beaten by residents of the Yitzhar settlement, he says.
-A taxi driver says settlers stone him near Nablus.
19 March
-A man is dragged from his car and beaten by settlers near Nablus. The incident occurs near the Yitzhar settlement. He is hospitalized.
21 March
-A 32-year-old from the south Hebron hills is stabbed in the chest while en route to a clinic in Yatta. Witnesses say the perpetrator is a settler from the Havat Ma'on settlement.
--Two Palestinians are shot in the southern West Bank town of Beit Ummar, when a settler opens fire on a funeral procession.
22 March
Settlers uproot hundreds of newly planted seedlings and destroy water wells on land belonging to Aqraba villagers in Nablus, agricultural union says.
Two Palestinians were shot Monday in Al-Khalil province as Jewish settlers escalated attacks against the Palestinians across the occupied territories of Jerusalem and the West Bank.
A Jewish settler opened fire at Palestinians attending a funeral in the city of Beit Ummar north of Al-Khalil, seriously injuring a 66-year-old man in the neck and another in the leg, medics said.
The Israeli army arrived after the incident and closed the city's main entrance, assaulted those gathered and disrupted the funeral's progression.
In separate incidents, four Palestinians were arrested for saying Allah is greater after around 40 Israeli settlers were permitted to enter the Aqsa Mosque.
Israeli police arrested four men who shouted Allah is greatest in response to the provocation.
Meanwhile, settlers from Burkan near the West Bank city of Salfit have attacked Palestinian vehicles near the town of Bruqin assaulting passengers and blocking movement around the town.
The assailants blocked the town's northern entrance and began hurling stones and glass bottles at Palestinian cars passing along the main street near the industrial settlement of Burkan.
Foundation: Israeli forces enter Al-Aqsa compound
Israeli forces raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound Tuesday morning and detained five worshipers, a statement by the Al-Aqsa Foundation for Waqf and Heritage said.
The statement said extremist settlers toured and desecrated the Al-Haram Ash-Sharif compound.
After that forces raided the compound at 8:30 a.m. and detained Muhammad Mansour from Majd Al-Kroum, Ali Hani Zeidan from Kafr Manda, and Obada Nathim, Bilal Jabarin and Ahmad Sharif from Umm Al-Fahm, the group said, quoting eyewitnesses.
All the detainees were students learning Islamic teachings.
The statement said Mansour was released later, while the other four remained in custody.
A Jewish settler opened fire at Palestinians attending a funeral in the city of Beit Ummar north of Al-Khalil, seriously injuring a 66-year-old man in the neck and another in the leg, medics said.
The Israeli army arrived after the incident and closed the city's main entrance, assaulted those gathered and disrupted the funeral's progression.
In separate incidents, four Palestinians were arrested for saying Allah is greater after around 40 Israeli settlers were permitted to enter the Aqsa Mosque.
Israeli police arrested four men who shouted Allah is greatest in response to the provocation.
Meanwhile, settlers from Burkan near the West Bank city of Salfit have attacked Palestinian vehicles near the town of Bruqin assaulting passengers and blocking movement around the town.
The assailants blocked the town's northern entrance and began hurling stones and glass bottles at Palestinian cars passing along the main street near the industrial settlement of Burkan.
Foundation: Israeli forces enter Al-Aqsa compound
Israeli forces raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound Tuesday morning and detained five worshipers, a statement by the Al-Aqsa Foundation for Waqf and Heritage said.
The statement said extremist settlers toured and desecrated the Al-Haram Ash-Sharif compound.
After that forces raided the compound at 8:30 a.m. and detained Muhammad Mansour from Majd Al-Kroum, Ali Hani Zeidan from Kafr Manda, and Obada Nathim, Bilal Jabarin and Ahmad Sharif from Umm Al-Fahm, the group said, quoting eyewitnesses.
All the detainees were students learning Islamic teachings.
The statement said Mansour was released later, while the other four remained in custody.
21 mar 2011
Two Palestinian men were injured on Monday midday, one critically, when an Israeli settler opened fire at a funeral in Beit Omer village near Hebron.
Abu Sufiyan al-Adam, 55, sustained critical wounds when the settler shot him in the chest, while Eyad Al Zaakik, 33, sustained wounds in his legs. Both were taken to Hebron city hospital.
Witnesses told PNN that a settlers driving on the nearby settlers road 60 stopped his car then opened fire at a group of men from the village taking part in a funeral. Israeli soldiers arrived at the scene and protected the settler until he left then fired tear gas at angry residents who were protesting the attack by the settler on them, witnesses told PNN.
The Israeli army deployed forces around the village and stopped villagers from reaching the settlers road which connects illegal settlement in southern West Bank with Jerusalem.
This is the second attack by settlers on Palestinians near Hebron. Earlier on Monday Mohamed Awad, 25, was working his land in Tuba village near Hebron when he was attacked by settlers who stabbed him and then fled the scene. The young farmer was taken to Hebron city hospital for treatment; doctors say he sustained moderate wounds after having been stabbed three times in the shoulder.
Settler and military attacks targeting Palestinian communities have been on rise over the past two weeks. Settlers attacked Palestinian villages earlier in March when Israel evacuated a settlers' post in the north, the attacks escalated when an unidentified attacker killed a settler family in Itamar, also in the north of the West Bank. Despite settlers' claim that it was a Palestinian attacker, no evidence has been provided to support these allegations.
Abu Sufiyan al-Adam, 55, sustained critical wounds when the settler shot him in the chest, while Eyad Al Zaakik, 33, sustained wounds in his legs. Both were taken to Hebron city hospital.
Witnesses told PNN that a settlers driving on the nearby settlers road 60 stopped his car then opened fire at a group of men from the village taking part in a funeral. Israeli soldiers arrived at the scene and protected the settler until he left then fired tear gas at angry residents who were protesting the attack by the settler on them, witnesses told PNN.
The Israeli army deployed forces around the village and stopped villagers from reaching the settlers road which connects illegal settlement in southern West Bank with Jerusalem.
This is the second attack by settlers on Palestinians near Hebron. Earlier on Monday Mohamed Awad, 25, was working his land in Tuba village near Hebron when he was attacked by settlers who stabbed him and then fled the scene. The young farmer was taken to Hebron city hospital for treatment; doctors say he sustained moderate wounds after having been stabbed three times in the shoulder.
Settler and military attacks targeting Palestinian communities have been on rise over the past two weeks. Settlers attacked Palestinian villages earlier in March when Israel evacuated a settlers' post in the north, the attacks escalated when an unidentified attacker killed a settler family in Itamar, also in the north of the West Bank. Despite settlers' claim that it was a Palestinian attacker, no evidence has been provided to support these allegations.
Following hospital treatment in Hebron, a 32-year-old from the south Hebron hills told Ma'an he was stabbed in the chest by settlers Monday, from the Ma'on settlement.
Speaking by phone from the hospital, Mahmoud Ibrahim Ali Awad, said he was treated for moderate stab wounds.
The day before, residents of the south Hebron hills village of At-Tuwani were reportedly harassed by settlers from the Havat Ma'on outpost, during a protest action overseen by Christian Peacemaker Teams observers.
According to a statement from CPT, residents went out to fields in the Humra valley to graze flocks, plant olive trees and gather herbs at 9 a.m., and were shortly thereafter observed by Israeli military jeeps, and later accosted by settlers who intimidated the locals.
"Settlers from the Havat Ma'on outpost, some of them masked, began to approach and provoke the Palestinians. They walked among their flocks and close to the women who were gathering herbs in the fields. At about 10:30, three young settlers chased a Palestinian man who was returning home with his donkey through Meshaha hill. Luckily, the Palestinian man was just scared by the settlers," the CPT statement said.
"The soldiers tried to keep the settlers away, repeatedly asking them to return in the outpost. At around 10:50 an officer of the Border Police brought an evacuation order declaring the zone," forcing both settlers and locals out of the area.
As the parties left the area, CPT observers said, some of the settlers "attacked the Palestinians and their flocks on their way back to the village, while others headed toward At-Tuwani masked and accompanied by dogs, threatening the house closest to the outpost."
During the ensuing confrontation, the military detained two, while a third was transported to hospital with light injuries.
Speaking by phone from the hospital, Mahmoud Ibrahim Ali Awad, said he was treated for moderate stab wounds.
The day before, residents of the south Hebron hills village of At-Tuwani were reportedly harassed by settlers from the Havat Ma'on outpost, during a protest action overseen by Christian Peacemaker Teams observers.
According to a statement from CPT, residents went out to fields in the Humra valley to graze flocks, plant olive trees and gather herbs at 9 a.m., and were shortly thereafter observed by Israeli military jeeps, and later accosted by settlers who intimidated the locals.
"Settlers from the Havat Ma'on outpost, some of them masked, began to approach and provoke the Palestinians. They walked among their flocks and close to the women who were gathering herbs in the fields. At about 10:30, three young settlers chased a Palestinian man who was returning home with his donkey through Meshaha hill. Luckily, the Palestinian man was just scared by the settlers," the CPT statement said.
"The soldiers tried to keep the settlers away, repeatedly asking them to return in the outpost. At around 10:50 an officer of the Border Police brought an evacuation order declaring the zone," forcing both settlers and locals out of the area.
As the parties left the area, CPT observers said, some of the settlers "attacked the Palestinians and their flocks on their way back to the village, while others headed toward At-Tuwani masked and accompanied by dogs, threatening the house closest to the outpost."
During the ensuing confrontation, the military detained two, while a third was transported to hospital with light injuries.
An armed Jewish settler on Sunday evening tried to storm the Aqsa Mosque through Al-Maghariba Gate, but the Mosque's servants and guards captured him and frustrated his intention to kill Muslim worshipers.
Local sources affirmed that the armed settler reached the Al-Maghariba ramp, climbed onto it and then tried to climb over the Mosque's wall before he was spotted.
Upon their arrival to arrest the settler, Israeli policemen claimed that he was drunk in an attempt to justify what happened.
In a separate incident, a group of savage Jewish settlers stabbed a Palestinian young man called Mohamed Awad, 25, during his presence in his land south of Al-Khalil city and fled away.
A medical source in Al-Khalil hospital said the young man was admitted into the emergency department after he sustained serious injuries during the attack.
Local sources affirmed that the armed settler reached the Al-Maghariba ramp, climbed onto it and then tried to climb over the Mosque's wall before he was spotted.
Upon their arrival to arrest the settler, Israeli policemen claimed that he was drunk in an attempt to justify what happened.
In a separate incident, a group of savage Jewish settlers stabbed a Palestinian young man called Mohamed Awad, 25, during his presence in his land south of Al-Khalil city and fled away.
A medical source in Al-Khalil hospital said the young man was admitted into the emergency department after he sustained serious injuries during the attack.
Clashes erupt in Silwan
Fierce clashes erupted Monday night between settlers, Israeli police and Palestinian youth in Silwan in East Jerusalem.
Ma'an's correspondent said Israeli police protected settlers but opened fire on residents and their homes in the flashpoint neighborhood.
Fierce clashes erupted Monday night between settlers, Israeli police and Palestinian youth in Silwan in East Jerusalem.
Ma'an's correspondent said Israeli police protected settlers but opened fire on residents and their homes in the flashpoint neighborhood.
20 mar 2011
Stabbing victim from Christian Arab village of Gush Halav says his friends were attacked by group of religious Jews with firecrackers, stones.
A 22-year-old man from the Christian Arab village of Gush Halav in the Upper Galilee suffered minor to moderate injuries when he was stabbed on Saturday night in the northern Israeli Ein Zeitim forest. The man and his friends claim they were attacked by a group of religious Jews.
A woman who was with the victim at the time of the attack said she and her friends met on Saturday night, as they often do. A group of religious Jewish youths appeared at their gathering place, cursed at them and blew up firecrackers next to them. Her friends attempted to deter the attackers, one of whom pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim in the stomach.
"They continued to hit us and throw stones, then ran away," she said.
The injured man was evacuated to Ziv Hospital in Safed. Police began scouring the area for the perpetrators.
Safed Police Superintendent Gadi Ron said that the officers in charge of the case are gathering intelligence in order to identify the suspects. They are exploring different possibilities, including the claim that the assaulters were religious Jews.
"We are not familiar with any past conflict that occurred between groups of youths in the forest, and certainly we have not encountered such an incident involving the Gush Halav village," he said.
A 22-year-old man from the Christian Arab village of Gush Halav in the Upper Galilee suffered minor to moderate injuries when he was stabbed on Saturday night in the northern Israeli Ein Zeitim forest. The man and his friends claim they were attacked by a group of religious Jews.
A woman who was with the victim at the time of the attack said she and her friends met on Saturday night, as they often do. A group of religious Jewish youths appeared at their gathering place, cursed at them and blew up firecrackers next to them. Her friends attempted to deter the attackers, one of whom pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim in the stomach.
"They continued to hit us and throw stones, then ran away," she said.
The injured man was evacuated to Ziv Hospital in Safed. Police began scouring the area for the perpetrators.
Safed Police Superintendent Gadi Ron said that the officers in charge of the case are gathering intelligence in order to identify the suspects. They are exploring different possibilities, including the claim that the assaulters were religious Jews.
"We are not familiar with any past conflict that occurred between groups of youths in the forest, and certainly we have not encountered such an incident involving the Gush Halav village," he said.
Dozens of Jewish settlers destroyed Saturday morning 50 dunums of agricultural lands belonging to Nawaj'a family near Susya settlement, east of Yatta town.
A spokesman for the Palestinian family of Nawaj'a said the settlers under military protection sabotaged the lands, uprooted crops and blocked shepherds from getting to their grazing land.
In a separate incident, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) attacked villagers from Khirbet Atwana, east of Yatta town, and foreign activists during a march held there in protest at the violations committed by Israeli troops and settlers against the Palestinians.
The IOF fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the villagers and foreign activists, which led to the injury of one Palestinian citizen called Fadel Al-Rabaee.
The troops also kidnapped the son of Rabaee during the march and took him to an unknown destination.
A spokesman for the Palestinian family of Nawaj'a said the settlers under military protection sabotaged the lands, uprooted crops and blocked shepherds from getting to their grazing land.
In a separate incident, the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) attacked villagers from Khirbet Atwana, east of Yatta town, and foreign activists during a march held there in protest at the violations committed by Israeli troops and settlers against the Palestinians.
The IOF fired tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the villagers and foreign activists, which led to the injury of one Palestinian citizen called Fadel Al-Rabaee.
The troops also kidnapped the son of Rabaee during the march and took him to an unknown destination.
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19 mar 2011
Tonight at 6pm a mob of 20 settlers from the Kiryat Arba settlement near Al Buwayra, Hebron, attacked the Palestinian family of Mozbah Zatari while they were in their car. According to the family and witnesses, they had just parked their car when the settlers swarmed around the car and broke windows with stones.
Mozbah Zatari, his mother, and his two sons (ages 4 and 6) were in the car and all were hurt by stones thrown into the car. Mozbah Zatari was injured on his leg by a stone and taken to the hospital.
This is not the first time the Zatari family has been attacked and hurt: they've been attacked many times as they're house is the closest in al Buwayre to the illegal settler outpost. According to the family, three nights ago settlers attacked their house by throwing stones at it and breaking windows. The recent increase in settler violence in al Buwayra may be related to the recent demolition by Israeli forces of their illegal outpost near the Kiyrat Arba settlement, though since then the outpost has been rebuilt. Two ISM activists are staying overnight in the village in case there are any more attacks.
Mozbah Zatari, his mother, and his two sons (ages 4 and 6) were in the car and all were hurt by stones thrown into the car. Mozbah Zatari was injured on his leg by a stone and taken to the hospital.
This is not the first time the Zatari family has been attacked and hurt: they've been attacked many times as they're house is the closest in al Buwayre to the illegal settler outpost. According to the family, three nights ago settlers attacked their house by throwing stones at it and breaking windows. The recent increase in settler violence in al Buwayra may be related to the recent demolition by Israeli forces of their illegal outpost near the Kiyrat Arba settlement, though since then the outpost has been rebuilt. Two ISM activists are staying overnight in the village in case there are any more attacks.
A Palestinian man was hospitalized Saturday after he was attacked by a group of settlers in Nablus, medics said.
Mahmoud Rashad Atallah, 30, was driving near the illegal Yitzhar settlement when settlers obstructed his car and assaulted him.
Attallah sustained injuries to his head and chest and was taken by ambulance to Rafedia hospital, medics from the Palestinian Red Crescent said.
On Friday, 35-year-old Talal Ad-Dmeidi was beaten with sticks by settlers in the same area.
A day earlier, masked settlers attacked two Palestinian constructions workers and an Israeli security guard with knives, pipes and pepper spray at Shilo settlement in Nablus.
Settler violence has escalated in the northern West Bank since Israeli officials blamed Palestinians for the murders of five Israelis in Itamar settlement last weekend.
Some settler groups vowed revenge, although suspects have yet to be identified.
Settlers have uprooted olive trees, torched cars, smashed windows, opened fire on Palestinian vehicles, spray painted homes, thrown rocks and bottles at Palestinian homes and cars and attacked civilians across the West Bank over the last week.
Mahmoud Rashad Atallah, 30, was driving near the illegal Yitzhar settlement when settlers obstructed his car and assaulted him.
Attallah sustained injuries to his head and chest and was taken by ambulance to Rafedia hospital, medics from the Palestinian Red Crescent said.
On Friday, 35-year-old Talal Ad-Dmeidi was beaten with sticks by settlers in the same area.
A day earlier, masked settlers attacked two Palestinian constructions workers and an Israeli security guard with knives, pipes and pepper spray at Shilo settlement in Nablus.
Settler violence has escalated in the northern West Bank since Israeli officials blamed Palestinians for the murders of five Israelis in Itamar settlement last weekend.
Some settler groups vowed revenge, although suspects have yet to be identified.
Settlers have uprooted olive trees, torched cars, smashed windows, opened fire on Palestinian vehicles, spray painted homes, thrown rocks and bottles at Palestinian homes and cars and attacked civilians across the West Bank over the last week.
Three days ago, Ayman, a boy of eleven years old from Ein Il Hilwe, was attacked by three settlers from the illegal Israeli settlement of Maskyyot. The settlers arrived in a blue car when Ayman was playing with four friends near the spring water.
This spring water is 30 meters far from his home, however, Ayman, his family, and all the Palestinian living in the Jordan Valley, are banned to use them and usually threatened and attacked by settlers when they are around.
In this occasion, the settlers who attacked Ayman, took his horse, tied a cable around its neck and after tried to asphyxiate the animal, the settlers broke its head. The settlers carried out all this brutality in front of the eyes and horror of Ayman and his friends.
Ayman's sisters were attacked in the same place when they approached the spring water to give water to their cows. Also two month ago, Ayman's mother was also beaten by settlers.
The Israeli illegal occupation is also working with bulldozers in this area preparing the land for expending Maskyoot settlement.
This spring water is 30 meters far from his home, however, Ayman, his family, and all the Palestinian living in the Jordan Valley, are banned to use them and usually threatened and attacked by settlers when they are around.
In this occasion, the settlers who attacked Ayman, took his horse, tied a cable around its neck and after tried to asphyxiate the animal, the settlers broke its head. The settlers carried out all this brutality in front of the eyes and horror of Ayman and his friends.
Ayman's sisters were attacked in the same place when they approached the spring water to give water to their cows. Also two month ago, Ayman's mother was also beaten by settlers.
The Israeli illegal occupation is also working with bulldozers in this area preparing the land for expending Maskyoot settlement.
Fierce clashes broke out once again on Friday afternoon between Palestinian young men and the Israeli occupation forces (IOF) in Silwan district of occupied Jerusalem as Jewish settlers continued their savage attacks on Palestinians and their property in different West Bank areas.
The Hebrew radio said that one Israeli soldier from the border guards was slightly injured when a Molotov cocktail was thrown at him during the clashes.
Meanwhile, armed Jewish settlers attacked on the same day different West Bank cities under military protection.
They stormed Yasuf town, near Salfit city, and attacked homes and Palestinians. Israeli troops helped the settlers during their attacks and fired tear gas grenades at the residents who tried to defend themselves.
A group of settlers intercepted a Palestinian car at Za'tara crossroads, east of Salfit city, and showered it with stones causing considerable damage to it.
In Tubas city, Jewish settlers from Maskiot settlement seized under military protection vast tracts of Palestinian lands in Wadi Al-Maleh, north of Jordan valley, and planted them with some olive trees.
The Israeli troops that escorted the settlers expelled the Palestinian owners from their lands, although they demonstrated official documents proving their ownership.
The Hebrew radio said that one Israeli soldier from the border guards was slightly injured when a Molotov cocktail was thrown at him during the clashes.
Meanwhile, armed Jewish settlers attacked on the same day different West Bank cities under military protection.
They stormed Yasuf town, near Salfit city, and attacked homes and Palestinians. Israeli troops helped the settlers during their attacks and fired tear gas grenades at the residents who tried to defend themselves.
A group of settlers intercepted a Palestinian car at Za'tara crossroads, east of Salfit city, and showered it with stones causing considerable damage to it.
In Tubas city, Jewish settlers from Maskiot settlement seized under military protection vast tracts of Palestinian lands in Wadi Al-Maleh, north of Jordan valley, and planted them with some olive trees.
The Israeli troops that escorted the settlers expelled the Palestinian owners from their lands, although they demonstrated official documents proving their ownership.
