Settlers Storm Silwan Town In East Jerusalem

Tuesday May 11, 2010 15:31 by IMEMC Staff - IMEMC News & Agencies

Dozens of illegal Israeli settlers and hardliner Jewish supporters marched into the Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan, in occupied East Jerusalem, on Tuesday in support of an illegal Israeli settlement there.

Israeli occupation forces closed off streets leading to Bit Yonan settlement, which is built illegally in the town, and allowed only settlers and their supporters to use it. The illegal Israeli settlers marched chanting anti-Palestinian and anti-Arab songs and carried Israeli flags, residents reported.

Settlers has been gathering at the Bit Yonan since last night as the Israeli government decided to evacuate it because it conceders it illegal.

Earlier clashes between Palestinian residents and settlers erupted on Tuesday when settlers attacked residents’ homes in Jerusalem old city.

Settlers used Meletove cocktail-bombs to attack residents homes before the residents tried to stop them, witnesses said that settlers were protected by Israeli troops. The Israeli firefighters took one hour to reach residents homes and put-off the fire, witnesses added.

The settlers were protesting the Israel government decision to demolish settlers homes in the old city it considers illegal, according to international law all Israeli settlements in and around Jerusalem are illegal.

Confrontations erupt in Silwan amidst rightist MK visit

Published yesterday (updated) 11/05/2010 20:33

Jerusalem – Ma'an –

A delegation of right-wing Israeli Knesset members sparked violence on Tuesday morning, as they toured the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan, where an Israeli plan for illegal settlement construction has slated 88 Palestinian homes for destruction.

The Israeli lawmakers visited the ultra-Orthodox settler home Beit Yonatan, built without a permit in the Palestinian neighborhood.

Hajj Fakhri Abu Dhiab, member of the Al-Bustan Defense Committee, told Ma'an that the Israeli occupation forces fired rubber bullets and tear-gas canisters on residents throwing stones, adding that one man was detained during the clashes.

Spokesman for the Israeli Police, Mickey Rosenfeld, said no detentions were made in Al-Bustan on Tuesday.

Locals reported overnight raids over the past two days, detaining 25-year-old Muhammad Mousa Auda and his brother 17-year-old Ibrahim on Tuesday morning.

Ibrahim's family said he was released later in the day, with clear signs of beatings, while the elder brother remains in custody.

The heavily armed Israeli forces accompanying the right wing MKs to the neighborhood caused tensions in the area to rise, following a period of relative calm.