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| Hills near Yitzhar – focal point of tensions Photo: AP
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Settlers, Palestinians clash in West Bank
Palestinians say dozens of settlers rioted in village; settlers say Palestinians set wheat field on fire
Ali Waked
Who's telling the truth? Dozens of settlers from the West Bank settlement of Yitzhar rioted in the village of Asira al-Kabaliya, Palestinian sources reported Friday. According to the report, several Palestinians were beaten up by settlers, who also caused extensive property damage in the village.
However, according to the settlers, Palestinians from a nearby village provoked the latest clash after setting a wheat field owned by Yitzhar residents on fire. The settlers said that teams who arrived on the scene to put out the fire were stoned by Palestinians, and claimed that this was the third time in the past two weeks that villagers set fields on fire.
Around 6 pm Friday, police in Samaria received a report about settlers and Palestinians hurling stones at each other near Yitzhar. Police were also told that a field in the area was set on fire.
Police cruisers and army forces arrived in the area and launched an investigation into the circumstances of the incident. No suspects have been detained at this time. However, the Palestinians said that soldiers called to the scene did nothing to stop the settlers from rioting.
In a similar incident about two weeks ago, Palestinian villagers said that hundreds of settlers from Yitzhar rioted in the same village and caused massive property damage. However, the IDF rejected the accusations, saying that the Palestinians were the ones who started the clashes after approaching the settlement and setting a field on fire.
The army also denied accusations that settlers entered the Palestinian village. In addition, no complaints were filed with police by either the Palestinians or the settlers.
Efrat Weiss contributed to the story
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