Settlement council reports several attacks on residents

Reservist soldier fatally shoots Palestinian amid alleged rock-throwing near Ramallah

Footage shows settlers stealing sheep, macing Palestinians in South Hebron Hills; mayor of Duma village accuses settlers of hurling Molotov cocktail into kids’ bedroom

A Palestinian man was shot and killed by a reservist soldier on Saturday after allegedly hurling stones at an Israeli civilian in the West Bank, the military said, adding in a statement that it was investigating the incident.

The incident came alongside reports of violence by extremist Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians elsewhere in the territory, as well as reports of violence by Palestinians against settlers.

According to the Israel Defense Forces, troops were dispatched to the Palestinian village of Deir Jarir, northeast of Ramallah and near the settlement of Ofra, following reports of “a number of Palestinians who hurled stones at an Israeli civilian near the area.”

The soldiers were part of an “area defense force” unit — known by its Hebrew acronym Hagmar — made up of local settlers in reserve duty, according to a security source.

Citing an initial inquiry, the IDF said that as troops arrived at the location, a “riot broke out that included stone-throwing at them.”

A video shared by the Ynet news site, ostensibly from the clash and immediately preceding the gunfire, showed someone throwing rocks, while the person filming protested. Details of the individuals’ identities, or confirmation of the clip’s provenance, were not immediately available. The Haaretz daily attributed the video to “a right-wing group.”

The military said one reserve soldier carried out a “suspect arrest procedure” which included firing warning shots in the air, “followed by firing at one of the stone-throwers.”

The Palestinian suspect, identified as 23-year-old Ali Hamadneh, was taken to a hospital where his death was declared.

According to Palestinian reports, settlers from a nearby outpost, the reservist among them, came to Deir Jarir to herd sheep on the village’s land. Several villagers reportedly came out to form a barrier between the settlers and locals’ houses, and it was at that point that the reservist shot and killed Hamadneh.

The IDF said it was investigating the incident and would forward the details to the relevant authorities for review.

The Mateh Binyamin Regional Council said on Saturday evening, in a statement carried by Hebrew media, that some 30 Palestinians had come to farms and hilltop outposts in the area in an attempt to harm settlers, reporting at least three incidents.

According to the council, in one incident an Israeli was lightly wounded; in another, some six Palestinians threw stones at residents before retreating to a nearby village; and in a third incident, Palestinians set up a stone barrier, and when Israelis came to remove it, attacked them with stones.

Video shows settlers stealing sheep, macing residents

Also Saturday, settlers were filmed apparently stealing sheep from Palestinians in the village of Tuba in the South Hebron Hills and macing several Palestinians with pepper spray.

According to Palestinian reports, one of those affected was a child.

Settlers also attempted to torch a home in the Palestinian village of Duma, hurling a Molotov cocktail into a bedroom belonging to children Saturday night while the family was inside, the town’s mayor said in a statement.

The family managed to quickly put out the fire, which caused some damage to the home but no injuries.

There were no reports of arrests. Arrests are highly rare in incidents of settler violence, which have been taking place across the West Bank daily.

Last week, 22 former security chiefs signed a letter warning about such violence, referring to “an extremist group, backed by irresponsible ministers and enabled by the silence of a prime minister.”

“The rampant Jewish terrorism in Judea and Samaria [the West Bank], carried out under governmental auspices, is not only a moral disgrace but also a severe strategic blow to Israel’s national security,” the former officials wrote.

A Friday report by Haaretz, citing security sources, said that Shin Bet chief David Zini has downplayed settler attacks on Palestinians, referring to them as instances of “friction” rather than terrorism, and not making quashing them a priority.

The newspaper over the weekend also published a lengthy piece citing statements from prominent religious Zionist leaders, as well as right-wing pundits, condemning the phenomenon.

Pinchas Wallerstein, the former director-general of the Yesha Council settlement umbrella group and former chairman of the Binyamin Regional Council, told Haaretz: “Beyond the fact that this is a crime, and that these people should be put in prison, it is a violation of state sovereignty. It’s a betrayal of the State of Israel, no less. These acts are unforgivable.”

The article also quoted condemnations from rabbis of the Etzion settlement bloc, as well as Rabbi Elyakim Levanon, chief rabbi of the Samaria region, and the heads of prominent West Bank yeshivas, including in the hardline communities of Har Bracha and Yitzhar.