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Last update - 20:59 07/08/2008
British consulate: Settlers attack U.K. diplomats on Hebron tour
By Reuters
Tags: Hebron, settlers, U.K. 

A small group of settlers attacked a delegation of British diplomats during a visit to the West Bank city of Hebron on Thursday, the British
Consulate said.

The consulate in Jerusalem said the diplomats were attacked while touring the area in an armored car. None were injured.
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A Palestinian security official in the city said one of the settlers kicked the car after trying to open one of its doors.

Tension often runs high in Hebron, home to 180,000 Palestinians and around 650 settlers who live in fortified enclaves guarded by Israel Defense Forces troops.

The city is holy to Jews, Muslims and Christians as it holds the Tomb of the Patriarchs, believed to be the burial place of Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and Jacob and Leah.

Diplomats regularly visit the flashpoint city to assess security conditions and the role of settlers.

The British diplomats were taking part in a tour by a group called "Breaking the Silence."

Tours by the group, led by former Israeli soldiers, are often attacked by some settlers who see them as siding with the Palestinians.

The British consulate said Israel Police forces intervened after the attack and an investigation was under way.

The Israeli government had no immediate comment.

Israel opens West Bank roadblock for trucks

Israel, under international pressure to ease curbs on Palestinian movement, opened a roadblock in the West Bank to commercial traffic on Thursday.

The IDF said the checkpoint between the city of Hebron and a commercial crossing point into Israel would be open for trucks for six hours a day. Private vehicles remain banned.

Residents said the measure reduces travel time between Hebron and the Tarqumiya crossing to less than 20 minutes from about 45.

The United States and Middle East envoy Tony Blair have pressed Israel to remove some of the checkpoints, roadblocks and other obstacles to Palestinian movement in the West Bank.

The relaxation of restrictions at the checkpoint occurred a day after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert met in Jerusalem to pursue U.S.-sponsored peace talks. Washington wants the two sides to reach a deal before President George W. Bush leaves office in January.

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      1.   Bwana mentality of the HM representatives 14:00  |  Absolute Sweden 07/08/08
      2.   Poor Brits 14:04  |  Star of David 07/08/08
      3.   Kicking one of the last friends you have. 14:15  |  Andreas 07/08/08
      4.   Brits under attack 14:47  |  just me 07/08/08
      5.   Making friends and influencing people, Israeli goon style 14:55  |  Clickfool 07/08/08
      6.   Delay further implementation of sanctions 14:57  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/08/08
      7.   welcome to the settlers, gentlemen 15:00  |  eric 07/08/08
      8.   Absolute 15:06  |  jari 07/08/08
      9.   If they support Arab terrorists, then they get treated as such 15:06  |  JD 07/08/08
      10.   Simple response 15:11  |  Chris Linthwaite 07/08/08
      11.   Brits brought it on themselves 15:16  |  Avraham 07/08/08
      12.   How Many U.K. Diplomats were injured? None. some attack! 15:44  |  Mike 07/08/08
      13.   Do the UK CONSULATE know of the Palestinian Charter 16:02  |  justiceforall 07/08/08
      14.   Clickmeclickfool 16:03  |  JON 07/08/08
      15.   Britain is on its way to become the first Islamic state in Europe 16:08  |  Jean Van Daem 07/08/08
      16.   attack U.K. 16:18  |  Ralph 07/08/08
      17.   UK officials meet the dregs of humanity 16:21  |  Sylvie 07/08/08
      18.   Rudyard Kipling 16:22  |  Kim 07/08/08
      19.   those friendly jewish hebronites 16:23  |  rm 07/08/08
      20.   #12 Mike 16:28  |  Paul Wood 07/08/08
      21.   Simply stupid 16:38  |  guy 07/08/08
      22.   Is It Worth It? 16:42  |  Yosemite 07/08/08
      23.   to Clickfool#5 16:54  |  Ilya 07/08/08
      24.   What an International Outrage!! 16:55  |  The Archives 07/08/08
      25.   No talkbacker yet has read the story 17:18  |  Richard Lee 07/08/08
      26.   The U.S. and the U.K. are allies! 17:22  |  Wendy 07/08/08
      27.   provocateur alert 17:24  |  Murray 07/08/08
      28.   No excuse for this behaviour 17:33  |  Morris Valentine 07/08/08
      29.   Colonial Brits Get kicked Again 17:34  |  Raymond 07/08/08
      30.   No surprise - Clifford Martin anyone? 17:47  |  Manny Goldstein 07/08/08
      31.   anti-Semitism and anti-Britishness 17:58  |  Richard 07/08/08
      32.   More Muslim deadly craziness if you want to a worthy uproar 18:19  |  Genuine Tosefta 07/08/08
      33.   Surprised, not really - a little like King David Hotel 18:23  |  Whatever 07/08/08
      34.   to eric#7 18:24  |  Ilya 07/08/08
      35.   What are British diplomats doing there?In N. Ireland Israel never 18:28  |  Genuine Tosefta 07/08/08
      36.   Richard if Israel diplomats go to N. Ireland you would be correct 18:33  |  Genuine Tosefta 07/08/08
      37.   British Empire raising its ugly head again? 18:34  |  Genuine Tosefta 07/08/08
      38.   Genuine Tosefta 18:42  |  Sylvie 07/08/08
      39.   "Attack" on British Diplompats #25 is right 18:47  |  marvls1 07/08/08
      40.   They came - they saw - all they needed to see 19:03  |  David 07/08/08
      41.   What `attack`? 19:17  |  Gee 07/08/08
      42.   Breaking the Silence is anti settler 19:22  |  David Zion 07/08/08
      43.   #11, Avraham... 19:24  |  Silvienne 07/08/08
      44.   To GT (#35) 19:27  |  Morris Valentine 07/08/08
      45.   #15, Jean van Daem... 19:28  |  Silvienne 07/08/08
      46.   #5, Clickfool... 19:30  |  Silvienne 07/08/08
      47.   Well that is wonderful! 19:31  |  ballistic 07/08/08
      48.   NewsFlash: Nothing happend -Jews to blame 19:42  |  Kim Deal 07/08/08
      49.   Our very own Taliban 19:52  |  Stuart Wilder 07/08/08
      50.   Tour R I P 19:54  |  Tracey 07/08/08
      51.   Attacking the pirate fleet 19:56  |  Boris 07/08/08
      52.   "attack"???? 20:01  |  the truth 07/08/08
      53.   Actually N. Ireland is occupied, ask many residents there 20:25  |  Genuine Tosefta 07/08/08
      54.   why hebron? 20:39  |  tam 07/08/08
      55.   British Attacked in Hebron tour 20:44  |  Alec Sanders 07/08/08
      56.   MV (if Haaretz does me the honour of posting this message) 20:46  |  x-ray 07/08/08
      57.   # 53 GT 20:59  |  Axel 07/08/08
      58.   I am leaving now for a "diplomatic" tour of N. Ireland 21:00  |  Genuine Tosefta 07/08/08
      59.   To Morris Valentine #28 - To `return Land to the Palestinians` 21:06  |  Dolly 07/08/08
      60.   Hang out the flag for Axel (#57) 21:39  |  Morris Valentine 07/08/08
      61.   Often attacked by setlers.. some attack folks! 21:39  |  Avi 07/08/08
      62.   Anglo-Saxon Countries 22:06  |  1ofthebrood 07/08/08
      63.   MV you must be very aware of how British settled India/Pakistan 22:07  |  Genuine Tosefta 07/08/08
      64.   didnt anyone tell them the mandate ended in 1948? 22:28  |  victor hardman 07/08/08
      65.   Dont settlers bring express relief? 22:32  |  boaz 07/08/08
      66.   58 Genuine Tosefta 22:45  |  Henry Blofeld 07/08/08
      67.   This isn`t news guys 23:02  |  Sam De Vries 07/08/08
      68.   "A Palestinian security official in the city said-" 23:04  |  PETER SM 07/08/08
      69.   The whole holy land is holy to everybody 23:24  |  Fritz T. 07/08/08
      70.   Henry Blofeld you fell into the trap and proved my point 23:38  |