Clashes in the area (archives)
צילום: רויטרס
Leftists, settlers clash near Bat Ayin
Police detain two Palestinians suspected of throwing stones at settlers near West Bank settlement. Leftists claim settlers damaged one of their vehicles
Police detained left-wing activists and Palestinians who clashed with settlers near the West Bank settlement of Bat Ayin on Saturday.
Stones were thrown during the clashes, but no injuries were reported, and quiet was restored.
An initial police investigation revealed that the incident took place when a group of some 20 leftists and Palestinians convened in the area, and were spotted by Bat Ayin residents who arrived at the same location.
A confrontation broke out between the two parties, and the leftists reported to police that the settlers damaged one of their vehicles.
The incident deteriorated into stone throwing and police detained for questioning two Palestinians suspected of throwing stones.
At one point the area was declared a closed military zone and settlers left the area. Three Palestinians and two leftists were detained for remaining in the area illegally.
Leftists from the Taayush organization gave a different version of events. They claimed that they were escorting Palestinian farmers to their lands when some 15 settlers suddenly appeared and attacked them.
The leftists said the settlers threw stones, vandalized cars ad broke one of their cameras.
The leftists added that Israeli security forces arrived at the area and expelled them and the Palestinians under claims that it was a closed military zone, but did not remove the settlers.
Following the murder of Bat Ayin resident Shlomo Nativ at the hands of a Palestinian in April, a number of clashes have broken out between settlers and Palestinians living in nearby villages.
At the start of May two Palestinians were injured from gunshots fired by settlers at their village of Khirbet Safa.
A few days after the murder, violent clashes broke out between residents of Bat Ayin and Palestinian residents of the village of Umm Safa.
Sixteen Palestinians were injured in clashes with IDF forces, after settlers prayed near the village. One Israeli was lightly injured.
