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Ahram Online
Dozens of Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday. “The settlers hurled stones at cars and homes, which left several people wounded including a Palestinian toddler”, activists said on Wednesday.
A Video capturing the Tuesday’s attack was released by an Israeli rights group, which showed several shirtless settlers with scarves wrapped around their faces hurling stones at a cluster of homes and vehicles. Israeli troops stood among the settlers, however, did not appear to be taking any action to stop them.
The Israeli military occupation authority declined to comment, saying it “was still gathering information”.
“A group of Israeli settlers attacked a Palestinian shepherd near the village of Mufaqara and slaughtered four of his sheep. Then stormed the village itself, attacking residents with clubs and stones. Mohammed Bakr, a four-year-old boy, sustained a head injury and was hospitalised”, said Sami Hureini, a local Palestinian activist.
The Israeli human rights group B’Tselem released video of the attack and provided a similar account. “Israeli troops fired tear gas at Palestinian residents and arrested at least one Palestinian. An Israeli soldier can be seen throwing a tear gas grenade at the Palestinian who filmed the attack and then shoving him”, B’Tselem said.
Nearly 500,000 Israeli settlers live in the occupied West Bank, which Israel occupied in the 1967 war. The territory is home to more than 2.5 million Palestinians.
Over 120 settlements were authorised by the Zionist occupation, and dozens of outposts in rural parts of the West Bank were set up by radical settlers, awaiting Israeli approval.
Israeli authorities are reluctant to dismantle any of the settlements or outposts, citing caution of clashes between the extreme Zionist settlers and security forces. The Palestinians and the international community consider all settlements illegal and an obstacle to peace.
“The settlers who took part in the attack came from two nearby outposts, Avigayil and Havat Maon”, B’Tselem noted. The area has seen a series of recent settler attacks. B’Tselem and other rights groups say, “Israeli forces often turn a blind eye to settler violence and side with the settlers in clashes with Palestinians”.
Mohammed Amr, a local Palestinian official, said “the unprecedented attack was aimed at driving Palestinians off the land to make way for more settlements. The goal is to force these citizens to leave their homes and lands”.
