Settlement of Itzhar near Nablus
Photo: AP
Settlers, Palestinians clash near Nablus
IDF claims Palestinians burned settlers' fields while Palestinians say army actively cooperates with settlers
Residents of Asira al-Kabaliya, a village near Nablus, claimed on Saturday that hundreds of settlers from the nearby Jewish settlement of Itzhar attacked them and damaged much of the village property. They also said that two of the residents were injured, and had to be evacuated to a Nablus hospital.
The IDF denied the Palestinian residents' allegations, claiming that they were the ones who sparked the conflict when they climbed towards the settlement, burning the settlers' fields.
Settler-Palestinian Conflict
Efrat Weiss
Palestinian man says more than 25 settlers threw stones at him, told him to 'go away'
IDF sources claimed that the situation deteriorated to stone-throwing from both sides, as the Palestinians walked from their village up the hill on which Itzhar is located while burning the settlers' property.
Similar conflicts have been known to take place in the area, due to vehement arguments over ownership of land.
IDF forces arrived at the scene with the objective of separating the two sides. The army denied the claim that settlers entered the Palestinian village. None of those involved in the incident have filed a complaint, and no one was arrested.
According to the Palestinian residents, the settlers damaged a few houses, set fire to some vehicles, burned dozens of acres of agricultural fields and beat a number of Palestinian youths.
One of the residents told Ynet that "the soldiers spread out on the roofs of the houses and pointed their rifles at anyone daring to object, while settlers fired, broke, and beat."
He claimed that the Palestinians had done nothing to provoke the attack. "My house is the one closest to Itzhar, and I have been beaten numerous times by them. They also stole dozens of sheep from me. Our problem is that the army not only supports them but cooperates actively with them," he said.
Efrat Weiss contributed to the report
