Middle East Conflict
Riots by Israeli settlers after the attack
Numerous cars went up in flames during the riots. photo
© Ilia Yefimovich/dpa
Ever new violence in the West Bank: on the day after the deadly attack by two Palestinians, outraged settlers cause massive destruction. In confrontations there is at least one death.
After a deadly attack on Israelis in the West Bank, angry Israeli settlers rioted against Palestinians there on Wednesday. Hundreds of Israelis set fire to dozens of vehicles and buildings in the Palestinian town of Turmus Aya alone, the Israeli army confirmed. According to media reports, a gas station was also on fire.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, a young Palestinian was shot dead there afterwards during confrontations with the army. Other people were injured, some seriously, by live ammunition.
The Israeli army condemned the settlers’ actions. “Such incidents prevent the army and security forces from concentrating on their main task – ensuring the security of the State of Israel and preventing terrorism.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed that Israel is a state governed by the rule of law. All citizens are obliged to abide by the law and further riots will not be tolerated.
Four Israelis killed
Dozens of settlers had previously returned to the Eviatar settlement outpost in the West Bank, which was vacated two years ago. The situation in the region had deteriorated again in the past few days. On Tuesday, two Palestinian attackers killed four Israelis near a West Bank settlement. Four Israelis were injured.
The attackers opened fire on a gas station and a restaurant not far from Eli. Both assassins were killed. The Islamist Hamas, which rules in the Gaza Strip, said the men belonged to the organization’s military arm.
Seven Palestinians killed
Hamas called the attack a reaction to Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. This was also in reference to a military operation in the city of Jenin on Monday that killed six Palestinians, including militants. A 15-year-old girl has also died from her injuries, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said. This brought the death toll to seven.
Jenin is considered a stronghold of militant Palestinians. Again and again there are confrontations with the Israeli military. The army has been conducting raids in the West Bank since a series of attacks on Israelis.
Since the beginning of the year, 134 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli military operations, confrontations or after their own attacks. During the same period, 22 Israelis, one Ukrainian and one Italian were killed in attacks. Israel captured the West Bank and East Jerusalem during the 1967 Six Day War. The Palestinians claim the areas for their own state.
According to media reports, numerous people were injured during protests by Druze residents in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Wednesday. They were reportedly protesting against the installation of wind turbines in their fields.