Violent confrontation between Palestinians, settlers

A dispute between Palestinians and settlers from Asael, south of Mount Hebron, ended in violence and extensive property damage on Saturday. Hebron police received a report that the settlement's security officer had detained six Palestinians in the afternoon hours. Firefighters were alerted to the scene to combat a blaze that consumed a crop field - a fire police say appears to be a case of arson. A number of left-wing activists and Palestinians have been singled out as the suspected perpetrators. The Palestinians, residents of the village of Samoa, claimed they were attacked by settlers, who set fire to three acres of wheat fields. They also claimed the settlers kidnapped a 30-year old farmer, tied him to a pole in the settlement, and beat him for two hours. Khalil Khalayla, who had been present at the scene, told Ynet that "there were at least 10 settlers, out of whom four rioted. They began to set fire to plots of land and shoot at the farmers. "We got out of the way because of the fire, but suddenly we heard yells and saw that one of our friends had been taken by the settlers into the settlement. They tied him up standing and proceeded to beat him." The left-wing activists at the scene published images of the Palestinian, seen tied to the pole, but the attack was not documented. In the video, left-wing activists argue with soldiers over the settlers' actions, claiming that the Palestinian tied to a pole was "just a boy", and unarmed. The soldiers say they will try to "calm everybody down." According to Khalayla, the farmers pleaded with the settlers, but they would not set the man free. "Only after two hours during which we had made dozens of calls to EU representatives, B'tselem, Peace Now, American organizations and Palestinian coordinators, the soldiers agreed to free our friend," he said. Palestinian sources reported the farmer was transferred to a Hebron hospital to receive treatment, and that his injuries were serious. Police reported one Palestinian and one settler had been detained for questioning as to the fire. The Palestinian is suspected of involvement in the fire, and the settler is suspected of attacking the farmers in response to the fire. Efrat Weiss contributed to this report

Violent confrontation between Palestinians, settlers

Palestinians exchange blows with settlers of Asael near Mt. Hebron, acres of agricultural fields set on fire; settlers accused of tying Palestinian man to pole, beating him for two hours