Illegal Israeli settlers attack Palestinians in Beit Ilu in retaliation for outpost demolition

Published today (updated) 27/01/2010 15:34

 Bethlehem - Ma'an/Agencies -

Several dozen illegal Israeli settler youths attacked the village of Beit Ilu on Tuesday, north of Ramallah, in response to Israeli occupation forces razing the illegal Gush Talmonim outpost they built on Palestinian lands, Israeli media reported.

The attack was coordinated by text message, the Israeli daily Haaretz said, and the settlers began chanting "The police destroy nothing that belongs to Arabs." "The rule of evil is persecuting the settlements." "In 24 hours, we will set this place up anew." "We will not be broken."

According to the daily, the assailants cut branches from nearby olive trees to make improvised weapons and began hurling stones. One of the settlers was appointed "security guard" to ensure no journalists were able to record the incident, Haaretz wrote.

Rioters broke into the home of the Mazar family, trying to set fire to the car of family members trying to escape the violence and then began pelting them with stones, the daily said, adding that Mohammed Mazar, who was visiting his grandmother, was hit in the head and began to bleed. Another relative was also injured, and both were evacuated to a local clinic.

Mohammed Radwan, the town's engineer, said at least 30 people were injured in the attack, the daily reported.

An Israeli military spokesman told Ma'an that, concerning the incident, three Israelis and two Palestinians were lightly injured in nearby Nachliel, opposite Beit Ilu, as a result of mutual rock-hurling. Israeli security forces and border police were called to intervene in the incident and separated those involved, the spokesman said.

Village authorities were forced shut down all its amenities and schools as a result of the attack.

Illegal Israeli Settlers Attack Beit Illu Village, Ramallah

Wednesday January 27, 2010 09:47 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

Dozens of armed illegal Israeli fundamentalist settlers invaded the village of Beit Illu, north of the central West Bank city of Ramallah, on Tuesday evening.

Local sources reported that armed settlers ransacked the home of Saleh Mohammad Saleh, before setting fire to the car of his son, Mohammad.

The Israeli army did not attempt to stop the attacks; nor did they attempt to force the perpetrators out of the village.

Local sources reported that a group of fundamentalist settlers recently uprooted several olive trees that belong to the residents of Beitillu village.

The attack is not an isolated incident. Attacks have escalated against the residents, their property and their lands, in response to Israeli’s temporary settlement freeze.

Rabbi Arrested In Connection To Arson of Mosque in Palestine

Wednesday January 27, 2010 02:03 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Rabbi Yitzhak Shapira, head of the Od Yusef Chai Yeshiva, was detained and interrogated by the Israeli police, on Tuesday, in connection with the arson of a mosque in the village of Yasouf, West Bank.

The Israeli police said that investigators are still trying to determine the role on the Rabbi in this arson, or whether he has no connection to the attack.



The Rabbi was moved to a Shin Bet investigation center in Petah Tikva. 

His lawyer told Israel’s Y-net News that the Rabbi denied any connection to the arson.

The Rabbi said that he will not be co-operating with the investigation as they “mistreat the rabbis”. 

The lawyer said that arresting the Rabbi and having him in detention is a red line crossed by the police and the Shin Bet. 



Y-net reported that dozens of settlers protested in front of the Shin Bet facility, whilst Michael Ben-Ari, MK for the National Union Party, said that the conduct of the police are similar to those of oppressive and dark regimes.

The arrest comes after last week’s arrest of several illegal Israeli fundamentalist settlers believed to be involved in the torching of the mosque. 

Five settlers, including two minors, are still held by the police. Two of the detained men are students of two Yeshivas in the area.

The Palestinian mosque was attacked on December 11 last year, and the perpetrators sprayed slurs on its walls. They sprayed “We will burn you all” and “Price Tag” on the walls.