Female settlers' assault elderly Palestinians in Deir al Hatab

Thursday December 06, 2007 11:59 by Ameen Abu Wardeh - IMEMC News

Deir Al Hatab village near the eastern West Bank city of Nablus is used to frequent attacks by Israeli settlers from the nearby settlement of Elon Moreh, but the attacks which occurred in the past two days were of a different kind as it was female settlers who attacked elderly Palestinians in the area.

Map showing some Israeli settlements and Palestinian villages (Map by ARIJ)

Husein Abed Al Kareem, head of the village council stated that the attack was completely unexpected as they had coordinated with the Israeli settlement to enter the area of Khalet al Beida, located near the settlement fence, to pick their olives.

Residents had been worried about their olive harvest as they had been prevented by Israeli authorities from reaching their trees. However, an even bigger shock was waiting for them when they reached the olive trees as they had been uprooted, with seedlings of olives planted in their place.

They were then bombarded with stones and insults from female Israeli settlers. The Israeli army were present but stood idly by during the attack.

Al Kareem said that two elderly men, aged 87 and 60 were injured as a result of the attack.

The village council filled a complaint to the Israeli police and to the Israeli settlement as the army had allowed the attack to happen.

Deir al Hatab village is located about 4 kilometers east of Nablus city . The population of the village is over 2500 and it is well-known olive planting region.

Translated by Nisreen Qumsieh - IMEMC News

nablus | israeli attacks | news report nisreen at imemc dot org