Palestinian: Settlers almost lynched me
Hebron riots enter fifth day, security forces gear up for more clashes with settlers. Local Palestinian resident says international peace keepers who saved him from lynch beaten severely by settlers
Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz has ordered the Civil Administration to asses the damages cause to Palestinian property as a result of settlers' riots in Hebron, so that the state will be able to compensate them in the future.
Israel Police is expected to deploy an additional 250 officers to assist the IDF in restoring public order.
Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said during a Kadima party meeting Monday that the rioters in Hebron are "an especially violent group," and said he has instructed the security forces to prepare and handle the matter in the firmest way possible.
"We will not agree to these assaults on security forces," he stated.
'Settlers almost lynched me'
Khalil Dandish, resident of the Dabuya neighborhood in Hebron told Ynet his house was attacked by dozens of settlers, and said that had international peace keepers failed to intervene, he would have been facing a lynch.
"My house was raided by some 200 people. Luckily for me, peace activists have intervened, and fell victim to the settlers themselves. They were stomped over and beaten until they bled," Dnadish recalled.
Settlers riot in Hebron (Photo: AP)
"These settlers must be stopped. They stampede like bulls at the direction of anyone who is not a settler, be it a Palestinian, an international activist or a soldier," he said.
According to Dandish, his carpentry has been shut down on military order since the rioting began, in order to prevent settlers from sabotaging it.
"Even when the security forces attempt to prevent confrontations, we end up being the victims," he claimed. "I have been going without my livelihood for five-and-a-half years, after my carpentry which provided for 12 people was closed down," he added.
In light of the current situation in town, Dandish has decided to keep his children away from the house. "Leaving children here in this situation is impossible. The kids need freedom, and here we have been under closure for three years. How can children live and function like this?" he asked.
Efrat Weiss and Hanan Greenberg contributed to the report
