Israel Matzav

'Palestinians' riot in Bat Ayin

Birkas HaChamas was quiet in my neighborhood this morning, but in Bat Ayin, where earlier this week a 13-year old boy was murdered by a 'Palestinian' terrorist, there was a near riot this morning. 'Palestinians' hurled stones at Jewish residents on their way to recite the blessing causing a riot in which at least 16 'Palestinians' and one Jew were injured. Soldiers fired weapons in the air to disperse the 'Palestinians.'

From the initial investigation into the incident it seems that the Palestinians began the violence when they attacked the settlers, who were walking from Bat Ayin to the cemetery at the nearby settlement of Kfar Etzion on Wednesday morning, Army Radio reported.

Earlier Wednesday, the settlers reported a group of Bat Ayin residents came under attack when they were celebrating the Birkat Hahama prayers at the "Mukhtar Hill" between their settlement and Hirbat Safa, near the Arab village of Beit Omar.

According to the settlers, a group of Palestinians arrived at the scene and started hurling stones at them.

The Palestinians, however, claimed that the settlers entered their village shooting in the air and damaging their property.

IDF soldiers arrived at the scene in order to break up the clash. However, the Palestinians said that the soldiers did not prevent the settlers from firing their weapons.

The IDF said that due to massive stone hurling, the soldiers used riot gear to stop the clash, including rubber bullets. But when the violence intensified, the troops were ordered to shoot at the legs of some of the stone hurlers.

Some of the 'Palestinians' were seriously injured.

I have two videos so let's go to the videotape.



For those who don't speak Hebrew, the newscaster says that the IDF opened fire because they believed their lives were in danger.

Here's the second video. It's from Cable Channel 10. Let's go to the videotape.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 5:58 PM