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Arabs, Jews - and tear gas for all By Nadav Shragai Nine masked Jewish youths grasped a thick wooden beam and began striking the iron gate of the Arab house across from Hebron's so-called "House of Contention" yesterday. A few minutes earlier, Arabs had thrown stones at several Jews nearby, and the Border Police had responded with tear gas and stun grenades. Now, as the youths tried to break into the Arab house, three border policemen stood in the nearby Muslim cemetery, watching helplessly and pleading over the radio for reinforcements. Advertisement The reinforcements took their time, and meanwhile, the youths broke down the gate and moved into the courtyard. Palestinians on the roof responded by throwing large rocks and flower pots, and the Jewish youths retreated. Only then did the police return to using their stun grenades and tear gas, targeting Jews and Arabs alike. The police broke into the house, climbed onto the roof and threw down the crates of rocks. And then, just as the action seemed to be lulling, Palestinians in the house began raining stones on a group of right-wing activists and youths clustered on the road. An especially large rock hit a 16-year-old in the head. He was taken sedated and on a respirator to the operating room at Hadassah Hospital in Ein Karem, where he remains in critical condition with a skull fracture. Hundreds of youths and right-wing activists spent the day in the House of Contention yesterday, as rumors of a pending evacuation abounded. Some studied on the ground floor, while others were on the roof, between piles of tires, bottles and stones. Every once in a while the youths gathered for a briefing by the organizers, including former Kedumim council head Daniella Weiss and activists from the Eretz Yisrael Shelanu movement. Hundreds more spent the day on the road between the house and the cemetery. Some prayed, some recited psalms and a few even danced, singing songs such as "Shimon and Levi killed the gentiles," and "We do not believe in the rule of the heretics." Shira Cohen, 30, of Kiryat Malachi, an experienced protester at such events, also came to Hebron "to back the struggle against the evacuation of the house." She described the events as a fire that damages the thorns, trees and flowers. The question was "who started the fire?" she said. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Light unto the nations Obama must help Israel break its territorial addiction. Blockade busters Israeli Arab leaders vow to sail to Gaza to break blockade.

Read & React Bradley Burston / The Jihadi as Nazi, from 9/11 to Mumbai Responses: 202 IDF declares Hebron `house of contention` a closed military zone Responses: 83 Amira Hass: Hamas sacrificing Islamic religious rite to keep its iron grip on Gaza Responses: 44 Experts urge Obama to negotiate with Iran, advance Syria peace Responses: 71 Palestinian seriously hurt in Jerusalem stabbing; says Jews attacked him Responses: 82 Rabbi, priest and imam pray together for rain on Kinneret Responses: 35 More Headlines 00:50 Livni: Israel must not let itself turn into the 'wild west' 20:06 Israel deploys hundreds of riot police as tensions in Hebron escalate 19:46 Report: Argentina to halt trade with Iran over Jewish center bombings 16:45 Israeli Arab leaders vow to sail to Gaza to break blockade 16:56 JEWISH WORLD / Obama must help Israel break its territorial addiction 18:27 Egypt MP: We won't let Hamas form an Islamic emirate in Gaza 21:31 Britain to host Fayyad and Olmert for separate talks this month 14:12 Palestinian seriously hurt in Jerusalem stabbing, says Jews attacked him 15:39 Three Qassams hit west Negev, further unraveling Gaza truce 00:23 Ido Pollak appointed CEO of TheMarker 16:54 The Jihadi as Nazi, from 9/11 to Mumbai 20:40 Two men injured in shooting incident in south Tel Aviv 21:23 U.S. court upholds $156 million judgment against Palestinian charities 19:44 Israeli expert: 70,000 children suffer abuse each year in Israel Previous Editions Select Day 03 dec 02 dec 01 dec 30 nov 28 nov 27 nov 26 nov 25 nov 24 nov 23 nov 21 nov 20 nov

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