Settlers Attack Homes, Smash Windshield Of Palestinian Car Near Hebron

Monday April 25, 2011 10:15 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Local sources in Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank, reported that a group of  illegal Israeli extremist settlers attacked a number of Palestinian homes near the Keryat Arba' illegal settlement, and broke the windshield of a local vehicle.

Resident Mohammad Ali Al-Qameery said that his car was parked in front of his home when it was attacked by the settlers.

Al Qameery added that the settlers also hurled stones at him as he tried to stop them.

The settlers also attacked several areas in Hebron, especially Sheikh Al Arroub area, and the Al Arroub Refugee Camp.

Furthermore, Clashes were reported between local residents, who hurled stones at empty bottles, and Israeli soldiers who fired gas bombs and rubber-coated metal bullets at them; no injuries were reported.

Settlers Attack Palestinian Children In East Jerusalem

Monday April 25, 2011 09:58 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

Palestinian sources reported Monday morning that a group of illegal fundamentalist Israeli settlers attacked, on Sunday evening, a group of Palestinian children in Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, in occupied East Jerusalem.

The Palestine News and Info Agency, WAFA, reported that the settlers attacked the Palestinian children with batons and used pepper spray against them, especially by spraying them in their eyes and on their faces.

Eyewitnesses told WAFA that approximately 50 - 70  illegal Israeli extremist settlers entered a Muslim graveyard in Sheikh Jarrah to pray on a grave said to be for a Jewish figure, and held prayers at the grave site.

Later on, the settlers hurled stones at local Palestinian homes, and attacked three children with pepper spray wounding one.

The issue led to clashes between local residents and the settlers.

The Israeli Police arrived at the scene to “protect” the settlers instead of detaining them, or at least removing them from the area.

On Sunday, an armed settler opened fire in the streets of Wadi Al Joz neighborhood, in occupied East Jerusalem, causing panic among the residents.

Director of the Al Maqdese Social and Development Center, Mo'taz Al-Za'atra, stated that the settler “was acting hysterically”, and issue that forced the residents to remain in their homes.

Al-Za'atra warned that extremist armed settler groups are escalating their attacks against the indigenous Palestinian residents of Jerusalem, and against their property and holy sites.

The Palestine News and Info Agency, WAFA, reported that the settlers attacked the Palestinian children with batons and used pepper spray against them, especially by spraying them in their eyes and on their faces.

Eyewitnesses told WAFA that approximately 50 - 70 extremist settlers entered a Muslim graveyard in Sheikh Jarrah to pray on a grave said to be for a Jewish figure, and held prayers at the grave site.

Later on, the settlers hurled stones at local Palestinian homes, and attacked three children with pepper spray wounding one.

The issue led to clashes between local residents and the settlers.

The Israeli Police arrived at the scene to “protect” the settlers instead of detaining them, or at least removing them from the area.

On Sunday, an armed settler opened fire in the streets of Wadi Al Joz neighborhood, in occupied East Jerusalem, causing panic among the residents.

Director of the Al Maqdese Social and Development Center, Mo'taz Al-Za'atra, stated that the settler “was acting hysterically”, and issue that forced the residents to remain in their homes.

Al-Za'atra warned that extremist armed settler groups are escalating their attacks against the indigenous Palestinian residents of Jerusalem, and against their property and holy sites.

13-year old boy among five Palestinians injured by Israeli settlers on Sunday

Monday April 25, 2011 01:15 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

Several groups of  illegal Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian with rocks on Sunday, mainly in the Nablus area in the northern West Bank. At least five were wounded, including a 13-year old boy who was hit in the head with a rock, and taken to Rafidiya Government Hospital in Nablus. Settlers also torched one car, and broke the windshield of another.

Israeli settlers throw stones in Nablus area villages in February (image from occupiedpalestine blog)

According to local eyewitnesses, Israeli settlers gathered on hilltops near Beit Furik, Urif and Madama villages on Sunday afternoon, and began throwing rocks at Palestinian villagers in the area. One group of settlers attacked Palestinian drivers on a road near Huwwara, south of Nablus, setting fire to a taxi belonging to Murad Mustafa Al-Yatem, and breaking the windshield of a car carrying three passengers – two of whom were injured in the attack.

The incidents of attacks against Palestinian residents escalated Sunday afternoon, after an Israeli settler was killed near 'Joseph's Tomb' in Nablus Sunday morning – allegedly by Palestinian security forces.

The Palestinian Authority has established an investigation of that incident.

Settler attacks against Palestinians in the northern West Bank have increased significantly in the last six weeks, after the murder of an Israeli settler family in their beds in Itamar. Israeli authorities claim to have extracted confessions for the murders from two Palestinian teenagers, but their families have denied the boys' involvement in the murder. One of the boys recently underwent surgery which prevents him from walking more than a few meters, and his parents said he was at home in bed recovering from his surgery at the time the murders took place.

Father says son's liver damage came from Israeli tear gas

Published today 10:17 NABLUS (Ma’an) --

Eleven-year-old Muhammad Bilal Abdul Salam Al-Tamimi was taken to the intensive care unit in Palestine Medical Complex in Ramallah, his father told Ma'an, saying the boy's condition had deteriorated throughout the week.

Muhammad had been hit by a tear-gas canister during a protest against land confiscations in the central West Bank village of Al-Nabi Saleh, and was admitted to hospital at the time but was released the same day.

The child's father said Muhammad's health had deteriorated during the week, prompting him to return to the hospital, where he said doctors ran tests and determined that there were injuries to the liver and kidneys.

He said he believed that the damage had been done by the exposure to tear-gas, but doctors have not confirmed the cause of the condition.

Settler Shot Dead Near Nablus, At Least Three Injured, One seriously

Sunday April 24, 2011 11:06 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Israeli sources reported Sunday that one illegal Israeli settler was shot and killed, and five others were injured, one seriously, after Palestinian gunmen opened fire at them at the entrance of the northern West Bank city of Nablus. The slain settler is the nephew of Israeli Culture Minister, Limor Livnat.

Local sources reported that the attack took place after a group of settlers arrived on Sunday morning at the Joseph Tomb in Nablus without coordinating the visit with the army or the District Coordination office (DCO), and while leaving the area, gunmen opened fire at their three vehicles.

Israeli daily, Haaretz, reported that three settlers were injured in the attack, and that the slain settler, Ben-Joseph Livnat, is the nephew of Israeli Culture Minister, Limor Livnat. He died shortly after he was moved to a nearby Israeli army base.

According to Haaretz, the gunshots came from a Palestinian security officer who reportedly opened fire at the Israeli vehicles while leaving the Joseph Tomb following an unauthorized visit.

The Israeli occupation army stated that Israeli pilgrims to the tomb are granted the opportunity to pray at the site once a month after receiving the needed permission and security arrangements.

Haaretz added that the two settlers, approximately 30 and 17 year old, suffered moderate-to-serious wounds, and were rushed to an Israeli settlement near Nablus, while a third settler suffered mild injuries.

Following the incident, Nablus governor, Jibril Al Masry, announced opening an investigation into the attack.

Israeli Ynet News reported that the Army and the Palestinian Authority are investigating the attack, and that the army stated that the shooting is not a “terror attack” as the visit was not coordinated.

The Ynet added that the shooting could have been prevented of the group of Israelis, who visited the tomb, have coordinated their visit in advance. It said that Israeli and Palestinian security officials will be holding a meeting later on Sunday to coordinate a joint investigation into the shooting.

In 2003, two Israelis were wounded at the Joseph tomb after Palestinian gunmen opened fire at them after they entered the area without coordination.

The Joseph Tomb is under the “control” of the Palestinian Authority since 2000, while the army allows organized visits to the tomb at night, under the protection of Israeli soldiers.