Settlers, Palestinian Farmers Clash Near Hebron

Sunday December 20, 2009 11:01 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

A group of fundamentalist settlers clashed on Saturday with Palestinian farmers near the illegal settlement outpost of Mitzpe Asael, in the southern Hebron Hillls.

File - Armed Settlers in Hebron; Palestine Monitor

Local sources reported that two Israeli activists were with the Palestinians when attacked by the settlers.

The Israeli Army claimed that the Palestinians and the peace activists tried to plow a land “that did not belong to the Palestinians”. The land was stolen by fundamentalist settlers.

Following the clashes, the army declared the area a closed military zone.

Local villagers reported that as they tried to plow their own land, a group of fundamentalist settlers arrived with dogs and attacked them.

Troops kidnapped a Palestinian villager after claiming that he refused to leave the area when it was declared a “closed military zone”.

The villagers said that the attack is one of repeated incidents against them, and against their lands.

hebron | israeli settlement | news report saed at imemc dot org