WEST BANK: Jewish settlers in Hebron scuffle with army and Palestinians over disputed house

Record ID: 561692

  • Title: WEST BANK: Jewish settlers in Hebron scuffle with army and Palestinians over disputed house
  • Date: 2nd December 2008
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEBRON RESIDENT AND WITNESS SAYING: "It has been three hours since almost two thousand settlers attacked the houses, people and children with rocks. They broke the houses and windows. Even the soldiers could not contain them. The soldier have been protecting us and instead of waking the children up and asking me about their whereabouts (as they do usually). The army is neither able to arrest them (settlers) nor protect us. We will protect our own selves. I am talking about the settlers."
  • Embargoed: 17th December 2008 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement,International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAF0YVEBGZTPA885JGVA43CCEDQ
  • Story Text: Stone-throwing clashes erupted on Monday (December 1, 2008), between militant Jewish settlers protesting Israeli plans to evict them from a building in the West Bank city of Hebron and their Palestinian neighbours, injuring at least four.
    A Reuters witness saw hundreds of settlers hurling stones at Palestinian homes next to the disputed settler building, where 13 Jewish families have been living for a year and a half.
    At least two Palestinian cars were set ablaze in what an Israeli security source described as a riot.

    "I reached inside the area, and the army turned me back. He even drew his weapon wanted to shoot me, " a Palestinian fire truck driver told Reuters.
    A resident of the area said that the Israeli army could not stop the settlers from attacking the houses and people.

    "It has been three hours since almost two thousand settlers attacked the houses, people and children with rocks. They broke the houses and windows. Even the soldiers could not contain them. The soldier have been protecting us and instead of waking the children up and asking me about their whereabouts (as they do usually). The army is neither able to arrest them (settlers) nor protect us. We will protect our own selves. I am talking about the settlers," a resident of the area told Reuters.
    At least four Palestinians, including a 12-year-old boy, were injured in the clashes, according to Palestinian medics in the flashpoint city.
    An Israeli army spokesman said troops at the scene "did their best" to separate the sides.
    Settler spokesman David Wilder said a Jewish teenager was attacked by Palestinians earlier in the day, triggering the flare-up.
    He said Palestinians hurled stones at settlers from their rooftops and "people here don't believe in turning the other cheek".
    Hardline Jewish settlers have vowed to resist an Israeli court order that they leave the building that they insist they bought from a Palestinian.
    Hebron is home to some 650 Jewish settlers who live in fortified enclaves guarded by Israeli troops in the heart of the city of 180,000 Palestinians.
    Hundreds of settler supporters, mostly youths, have come to the Jewish enclave in the past week to try to prevent the evacuation of the building, raising tensions.
    Settlers moved into the disputed building in March 2007.
    Palestinian Faiz Rajabi said the building belongs to him and he has denied selling it to the settlers.
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