Israeli Settlers Torched Homes, Goat Pen, Shot at Palestinian Residents in West Bank -
Israeli settlers set fire to homes and a livestock pen on Wednesday, and opened fire on residents in the northern West Bank village of Bardala, according to witnesses.
Israeli soldiers entered the village along with the settlers, the witnesses added, and arrested five Palestinians.
An Israeli security official confirmed that four Palestinians were wounded in clashes between settlers from a nearby outpost and local residents, and said at least some of the injuries were caused by settler gunfire.
Residents said the incident began when settlers attacked Palestinians working on nearby farmland, who fled into the village and asked for help. Ahmad Jahalin, whose home in Bardala was attacked, told Haaretz that the settlers and soldiers followed the farmers into the village. He said settlers entered his family's compound and torched two houses, a goat pen and all the property there.
Property set on fire by Israeli settlers in Bardala village in the West Bank on Wednesday.Bardala Village Council
"We fled from the house without taking anything – not gold, not the kushan [title deed], not IDs," Jahalin said. "They burned everything. Clothes, mattresses, money; nothing is left."
Jahalin said soldiers arrested his 20-year-old son during the incident, and he doesn't know where he is being held.
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The IDF Spokesperson's Unit said in a statement that it had received a report of Palestinians throwing rocks at an Israeli civilian who drove past Bardala, clashing with several Palestinians who threw stones at hime. "During the clash, more Israeli civilians arrived and fired into the air," the army added.
The IDF said that when the report was received, "an IDF force rushed to the location to disperse the clash and fired at a number of Palestinians to remove an immediate threat." According to the statement, the soldiers arrested "a number of Palestinians suspected of throwing stones," who were taken for "continued interrogation by defense officials." The army said it is still investigating the incident.
Property set on fire by Israeli settlers in Bardala village in the West Bank on Wednesday.Ahmad Jahalin
Wednesday's attack wasn't the first time the Jahalin family was attacked by settlers. Around three months ago, according to family members, settlers came into the village and threw rocks at their home while they were inside.
In December, Israelis established a new illegal outpost near Bardala. Ever since, villagers have faced repeated violent attacks. In addition, the IDF has beenhampering local access to pastureland after it recently built a road between the village and its farmland and grazing pastures.
Ibrahim Sawafta, a member of Bardala's village council, told Haaretz in February that the road blocked access to 25 families' land and their main source of livelihood. "They're preventing us from sowing and from working in Israel, and they're bringing settlers to live there. Where are people to go? This will lead them to radical places," he said.
In a separate incident Wednesday night, settlers invaded Kifl Haris, a village near Ariel, and threw rocks at homes and cars, residents say. On the same night, settlers raided the village of Sinjil, near Ramallah, after the Israel Defense Forces and the Border Police evacuated a nearby settlement outpost. Residents said settlers destroyed a building and a car in the village.