Settlers, Palestinians injured in clash near Yitzhar
Members of West Bank settlement's emergency squad dispatched to vineyard south of community following arrival of nearby village's resident. Palestinians report 14 residents hospitalized after IDF soldiers, settlers enter village
Israel Defense Forces entered the village for a search and used crowd dispersal means against the Palestinians, who reported of 14 residents who were hospitalized and 15 Palestinians hurt by tear gas who were treated on site.
One of the wounded settlers was evacuated to a hospital. The IDF is looking into the report that Palestinians were also injured in the incident.
After the IDF searched the village, the Palestinians claimed that soldiers deployed in the area, but the army said the forces had left the village.
Fear of additional round of violence
Ourif council head Abu Amar told Ynet he had appealed to the Palestinian Authority and human rights organizations. "We asked them to intervene in order to end the acts of harassment by settlers and the army," he said.
"Above all, we warned against an attack expected in the village soon. We are afraid of another round," he added.
Abu Amar also said that one of the injured village residents, who arrived at the Hawara checkpoint with an escort, was beaten by soldiers and policemen who hit them with their rifles.
The council head went on to say that water containers, water heaters and window shields in dozens of houses were damaged following the settlers' riots earlier in the day and shots fired by the soldiers afterwards.
"We have yet to assess the financial damage because of the late nigh hour, and our attention is now focused on evacuating the injured," he said, adding that there were injured people inside the houses as well.
An initial inquiry revealed that at around 6:30 pm, a Palestinian was making way from Ourif to a vineyard located some 15 meters (49 feet) south of the settlement's houses.
Members of the community's emergency squad were dispatched to the area after spotting the suspicious figure, while a group of Palestinians emerged from the village. The two parties met midway and began clashing.
During the clash, the settlement's security officer allegedly fired in the air twice in order to calm everyone down. IDF forces were dispatched to the area to try and separate between the sides, and the army began searching the village.
'Government must act to stop terror'
During their presence in the village, the soldiers used crowd dispersal means against the local residents. Military officials clarified that according to the initial inquiry, the settlers did not fire at the Palestinians.Yitzhar spokesman Yigal Amitai told Ynet before Shabbat, "There is no vacuum in a security policy. Just like riding a bike, if you don't move forward, you fall. If the Netanyahu government fails to immediately launch a settlement drive and increase the security, the acts of Arab terror will strengthen."
The Palestinians, on the other hand, reported that the Ourif residents were beaten by Yitzhar settlers, soldiers and Border Guard officers.
The Palestinians claimed that dozens of settlers raided the village at around 4 pm and began throwing stones at its houses. According to the Palestinians, they alerted the police and IDF and went out to stop the settlers.
The sources added that the force which arrived at the scene of the clash sought to separate between them and the settlers, but shortly afterwards began firing rubber bullets, tear gas and live ammunition at the Palestinians.
Village residents told Ynet that the soldiers had essentially turned into "a human shield" for the settlers, and that the Palestinians had found themselves facing the settlers, the soldiers and the policemen all together.
Ali Waked contributed to this report
