|
|
| By: Associated Press |
| Published: October 25, 2006 |
| |
West Bank settlers on Wednesday attacked a group of Palestinian farmers with rocks and metal bars, wounding at least three people, in what has become an annual scene of violence during the olive harvest season.
Ibrahim Salah said about 30 family members were tending to their field west of Nablus when some 50 settlers descended on the area wielding rocks and metal bars, and some holding guns. He said his son Basel, 31, was hit in the head by a metal bar and taken to a hospital. Witnesses said four others were lightly wounded.
Israeli troops arrived shortly after the incident and dispersed the crowd, evacuating Salah to a hospital in an army jeep, the army said. There were no immediate details on his condition.
The incident occurred near Havat Gilad, one of two dozen unauthorized outposts the Israeli government has pledged to dismantle.
Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said three Palestinians and one settler were lightly wounded in Wednesday's violence. He said the farmers did not coordinate with authorities or arrange an escort, as is customary during the harvest season.
Repeated attacks by settlers in recent years have led the army to dispatch troops to protect the farmers during the harvest season.
The olive harvest usually has large outputs every two years, and this year is expected to yield a bumper crop, making it essential to the economic survival of cash-strapped Palestinians. |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
