Monitoring group tracks rise in settler violence

Via Silver Lining

Posted on February 21, 2010 by realistic bird

February 20, 2010
Bethlehem – Ma’an – A “rise in violence against Palestinian shepherds shows settler-military collaboration,” the a report from the Hebron-based Christian Peacemaker Teams alleged Friday.
The group, with the motto of “getting in the way” of Israeli human rights abuses in target areas in the southern West Bank, has members stationed in Hebron and the village of At-Tuwani, 25 kilometers south of the city. The observers said they had been notified of attacks against Palestinians by setters 19 times in the last 19 days.
“In my experience, its typical for there to be one major incident every week,” one field worker said, noting the recent attacks were a “distinct increase in activity.”
A report from CPT said, “The past two weeks have seen a marked rise in settler activity outside the illegal settlements of Ma’on and the Havat Ma’on (Hill 833) outpost,” citing rock throwing, intimidation, harassment, physical violence and even the abduction of a young shepherd “with the aid of the Israeli military and police.”
According to the group, settlers from the Carmel colony directed soldiers to seize the goats of a 12-year-old shepherd on Friday afternoon. The boy testified to CPT field observers that soldiers walked downhill from the settlement dairy barns, grabbed his two goats, and told him, “If you want your goats back, you better come here.”
The boy said he was worried about the health of one of his goats, who is pregnant.
The team was notified of the assault by another shepherd from the nearby village of Tuba, who CPT workers said had heard ” the boy’s shouts of panic as the Israelis grabbed him.”
The shepherd said he had been struck and restrained by the soldiers.
Police reportedly told inquiring CPT workers that the boy had criminally trespassed on Ma’on Settlement land. “The boy reported having no idea the land was not open to everyone,” the report said.

IOF troops storm Nablus, settlers perform rituals at Nabi Yusuf

[ 21/02/2010 - 11:08 AM ]

NABLUS, (PIC)-- Israeli occupation forces (IOF) stormed the Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus city, at the early dawn hours on Sunday amidst sounds of explosions and gunfire, local sources reported.

They added that the IOF soldiers withdrew from the camp without making arrests, noting that they had broken into the camp mounting tens of armored vehicles.

Meanwhile, a big number of Jewish settlers performed religious rituals at the Nabi Yusuf tomb east of Nablus under IOF escort.

In another development, an Israeli settler ran over a 32-year-old Palestinian man south of Nablus on Saturday evening.

Locals said that Ibrahim Afane was hospitalized and that his condition was moderate

River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian