Incident in Silwan
Photo: AFP
Settler leader runs over stone-throwers
Video: Al-Jazeera clip shows Arab teens in Silwan throwing stones at car belonging to David Be'eri, leader of group trying to settle Jews in east Jerusalem, who hits them. Jerusalem Police says released Be'eri on bail
A leader of Jewish settlers in the Palestinian village of Silwan ran over two Arab teens who were throwing stones at his car, Al-Jazeera reported Friday.
The station broadcast a video clip showing David Be'eri, who heads Elad, an organization promoting Jewish settlement in east Jerusalem, running over the two youths, who had to be hospitalized. Be'eri was taken in for questioning by police and released on bail. Officers say the investigation against him will continue.
"David left his home together with his son and began driving when suddenly he was attacked by dozens of masked men who began to throw stones from every direction," his associates said in comments to the press.
"He tried to escape, first by driving in reverse, but the vehicle behind him blocked his path. It must be understood that he an ambush was prepared for him, which included cameras brought to the scene ahead of time."
Be'eri, 57, is the chairman of Elad, a Hebrew acronym for: 'To the City of David'. The organization is funded mainly by donations, and has been working for years to discreetly purchase property for Jews in Silwan.
Over the past 20 years it has succeeded in settling a number of Jewish families in homes in the village, the most famous of which is Beit Yehonatan.
The organization also has another, more controversial field – namely conducting archaeological digs together with the Antiquities Authority in an effort to discover remains of Jewish civilization from the days of the second temple.
The digs, which Arab parties claim take place under the al-Aqsa mosque and threaten its collapse, have angered many in the Muslim world and the international community.
Ronen Medzini contributed to this report
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