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Last update - 00:00 05/07/2008
VIDEO: Settlers tie Palestinian man to phone pole and beat him
By Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Palestinian, Israel, Settlers 

A group of West Bank settlers on Saturday beat a 31-year-old Palestinian man in the southern Hebron Hills, after having tied him to a telephone pole.

Left-wing activists later videoed a settler kicking Madahat Abu-Kirash, the victim, as he remained tied up and was surrounded by Israeli security forces. The soldiers subsequently removed the settler from the scene.

Hebron police opened an investigation into the incident after Abu-Kirash submitted a complaint, claiming that he had been beaten all over his body.




According to the left-wing organization Ta'ayush, whose members were close to the scene of the assault and witnessed part of it, the incident began when residents of the settlement of Asael accused Abu-Kirash of setting a field alight a few hundred meters away from their homes.

Abu-Kirash, a teacher, told the settlers in response that he had come to perform agricultural work on land he owns. He denied any connection to the fire.

Ta'ayush members said that the Palestinian's explanation was of no avail, and the settlers proceeded to forcibly take him to the bounds of the settlement, where they tied him up and beat him.

IDF troops who were called to the area gave him medical treatment on the spot, after which a Red Crescent ambulance took him to a hospital. Abu-Kirash later returned to his home from the hospital.

"When we arrived at the scene there were already lots of the army's troops. I saw a settler approach him and kick him, as he was tied to the pole... [Abu-Kirash's] whole body was bound up, I saw they bandaged a head wound and he was half unconscious," said a Ta'ayush activist who was present during the incident.

The chairperson of the South Hebron hills regional council, Zviki Bar-Hai told Haaretz that those responsible for starting the fire and setting the nearby fields ablaze were not from the area, rather they were either Palestinians or extreme left-wing activists.

Bar-Hai claims he demanded that the police and army investigate what happened. "But what is clear," he said "is that occasionally on Shabbat these provocateurs instigate commotion, just last week they called IDF soldiers Nazis."

According to sources within the settler community, Palestinians came close to Asael and began burning fields. They also said that they would investigate the complaints Abu-Kirash submitted.

"Asael men summoned the police and army, and meanwhile they managed to catch the man responsible for lighting the fire, tied him and then called for the army," the sources said.

A month ago, the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem released a video which it said showed the start of an assault on Palestinian farmers by masked, stick-wielding Israeli settlers.

Related articles:
  • Israel Police arrest settlers for assault on Palestinian farmers
  • Palestinian boy, 14, says was attacked by two settlers
  • German delegation: We were threatened by Hebron settlers, IDF did nothing
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      1.   One kick??? this is "beating"?? 22:54  |  Jewish State 05/07/08
      2.   why are settlers not called terrorists 23:12  |  billy jack 05/07/08
      3.   Wait Until the Truth is Revealed for Once,Haaretz 23:15  |  Whitey 05/07/08
      4.   He lucky thats all he got for burning thier food. 23:23  |  Levi 05/07/08
      5.   These settler`s claim to be Jewish ... 23:23  |  Chanalau, Tova 05/07/08
      6.   Arab Lies: The Fire Just "Happened" Coincidentally 23:33  |  Yishai Kohen 05/07/08
      7.   How upsetting ... 23:35  |  Natalie Durson 05/07/08
      8.   These settlers are terrorists 23:37  |  Janice 05/07/08
      9.   Bring the criminals to court 23:42  |  Siem 05/07/08
      10.   Settler Thugs 23:44  |  Shai 05/07/08
      11.   all hail the hero settlers 23:50  |  newageblues 05/07/08
      12.   bulldoz the settlers houses downe 00:26  |  wh 06/07/08
      13.   Amazing 00:37  |  Democracy 06/07/08
      14.   Disgrace! 00:38  |  Jane 06/07/08
      15.   this where israel can shine! 00:40  |  bashar 06/07/08
      16.   anti-semitic video cameras 00:50  |  Colin Wright 06/07/08
      17.   well if it was a west bank field its his 00:54  |  joe 06/07/08
      18.   If my tax money was going to support these creeps 00:54  |  Aphemia 06/07/08
      19.   If I had Hamas`s Mentality 00:54  |  James 06/07/08
      20.   would you swap gaza and the west bank for all of jerusalem? 00:56  |  sammy 06/07/08
      21.   Animals 00:57  |  sabiha 06/07/08
      22.   Palestinian 01:01  |  Ralph 06/07/08
      23.   Title: anti-semitic video cameras 01:19  |  Democracy 06/07/08
      24.   A morally bankrupt society 01:23  |  Jose Pinheiro 06/07/08
      25.   Hey Durson 01:43  |  Great response 06/07/08
      26.   Arsonist only received a beating 01:53  |  * BEN JABO 06/07/08
      27.   If a Palestinian beat a settler 01:57  |  Lebanese in Canada 06/07/08
      28.   what have we come to? 02:09  |  Keith Kessler 06/07/08
      29.   Why Aren`t They Under Arrest? 02:11  |  DAT 06/07/08
      30.   I DONT GET IT ? 02:16  |  Raymond 06/07/08
      31.   RESPONSE:Arsonist only received a beating 02:24  |  Democracy 06/07/08
      32.   I don`t see the problem 02:24  |  Sheldon B. 06/07/08
      33.   Name: Raymond RESPONSE 02:29  |  Democracy 06/07/08
      34.   "beaten all over his body"? 02:30  |  no friend to clowns 06/07/08
      35.   beaten all over his body... 02:34  |  hope & change 06/07/08
      36.   @Natalie Durson: Every arrest in US goes worse a lot 02:36  |  Protected civilian 06/07/08
      37.   GATHERING OF COWARDS 02:40  |  CHOSEN WORLD 06/07/08
      38.   ta`ayush:"What really happened is of no concern" 02:42  |  Arie 06/07/08
      39.   Name: Sheldon B. 02:45  |  Democracy 06/07/08
      40.   re Democracy #23 `Title...` 02:45  |  Colin Wright 06/07/08
      41.   That`s nothing, you crybabies... 02:53  |  Much greater Israel 06/07/08
      42.   What is WRITTEN is not what is SHOWN 02:58  |  Gil 06/07/08
      43.   Hold your horses you comprehension-chalenged posters 02:59  |  Pervert 06/07/08
      44.   Shame on these great settlers: Pal got off by far too easy 03:00  |  Analyst 06/07/08
      45.   15 secs video? Who hides the rest and why? 03:02  |  Good 06/07/08
      46.   #23 Democracy 03:02  |  Boycott 06/07/08
      47.   Ben Jabo...like you always ask me... 03:57  |  Silvienne 06/07/08
      48.   Please pardon the inconvenience while we build a Greater Zion 04:14  |  American in NY 06/07/08
      49.   #18, Aphemia... 05:11  |  Silvienne 06/07/08
      50.   Imagine if the roles were switched 05:33  |  mike honcho 06/07/08
      51.   ??? 06:50  |  Joseph 06/07/08
      52.   #26, Ben Jabo... 07:03  |  Silvienne 06/07/08
      53.   Cowards 07:11  |  Jared 06/07/08
      54.   just imagine 07:41  |  rm 06/07/08
      55.   ROOT causes of such hatred 07:59  |  judith 06/07/08
      56.   LEFT`S STAGED ATTACK 100% PROVEN THEY ARE THE INSTAGATORS 08:03  |  JEW 06/07/08
      57.   arsonist has not right to complain 08:12  |  Ilan 06/07/08
      58.   re #52 `ROOT causes of such hatred` 08:12  |  Colin Wright 06/07/08
      59.   #25 Hey Durson 09:05  |  David 06/07/08
      60.   To Lebanese in Canada 09:20  |  Steven Grumman 06/07/08
      61.   Daily torment and fear..? 09:55  |  Palestinian Brit 06/07/08
      62.   To Jewish state 10:25  |  Ivan 06/07/08
      63.   so what else is new... 10:29  |  ravi 06/07/08
      64.   this happens al the time 10:30  |  SD 06/07/08
      65.   #47 11:02  |  Sheikh Rattle & Roll 06/07/08
      66.   # 52 to silvienne 11:04  |  eric 06/07/08
      67.   can you imagine these thugs in ISRAEL itself? 11:31  |  eric 06/07/08
      68.   to #27 and #60 Lebanese in Canada and Phillipines 11:49  |  B`Galil 06/07/08
      69.   To the lesbian in Canaada 12:12  |  spade 06/07/08
      70.   Where is Haaretz report of what is happening in Na`elin? 12:23  |  Palestinian Brit 06/07/08
      71.   Jewish State`s question #1 12:30  |  sh 06/07/08
      72.   What do you expect after being kicked out of their homes in Hevro 12:34  |  Allon 06/07/08
      73.   Palestinian was guilty. Tied himself up, and kicked himself. 13:02  |  Toronto`s Finest 06/07/08
      74.   Issa Amro 13:04  |  Issa Amro 06/07/08
      75.   Disgusting 13:30  |  Chris Linthwaite 06/07/08
      76.   abbas should arrest these people for comiting crimes on his land 13:31  |  zzz 06/07/08
      77.   It is very unfortunate that petty criminals are elevated to 13:41  |  17 06/07/08
      78.   #30 Raymond from SA 13:42  |  Labhras 06/07/08
      79.   #55 judith thanks for the giggle judith 13:45  |  Labhras 06/07/08
      80.   what really happened 13:50  |  Genuine Tosefta 06/07/08
      81.   Abu-Kirash is a member of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, PLFP or Martyrs B 13:54  |  Genuine Tosefta 06/07/08
      82.   Here is the report on Naalaim 14:00  |  Genuine Tosefta 06/07/08
      83.   #5 Chanalau Tova 14:03  |  Hilda 06/07/08
      84.   So Natalie is upset #7 14:07  |  Hilda 06/07/08
      85.   The attackers should get a harsh punishment 14:18  |  Tulip 06/07/08
      86.   All one can see in the video is two kicks, 14:18  |  MR 06/07/08
      87.   To Keith # 28 14:21  |  Anwar of Ramallah 06/07/08
      88.   If these people want to take the law into their hands 14:28  |  Tzfonit 06/07/08
      89.   #44 analyst thank you for your support 14:31  |  Labhras 06/07/08
      90.   I don`t see a beating 14:45  |  fred 06/07/08
      91.   We will have to await the outcome of a never to be held inquiry. 14:46  |  Labhras 06/07/08
      92.   Colin Wright 14:50  |  judith 06/07/08
      93.   #31 Reply to reply 14:56  |  * BEN JABO 06/07/08
      94.   #61 Palestinian Brit 15:00  |  * BEN JABO 06/07/08
      95.   #62 Palestinian Brit 15:04  |  * BEN JABO 06/07/08
      96.   IF THE ARAB DID THIS 15:04  |  indrajaya 06/07/08
      97.   Settlers tie Palestinan man to phone pole 15:12  |  Marlene 06/07/08
      98.   Settlers tie Palestinan man to phone pole 15:14  |  Marlene 06/07/08
      99.   About time for good news 15:15  |  Cynic 06/07/08
      100.   Colin (#16) 15:17  |  jjvanka 06/07/08
      101.   31 year old man is just a kid... yea right. 15:24  |  S 06/07/08
      102.   Brave Settlers 15:32  |  Palestinian in UK 06/07/08
      103.   Abbas should act? We wish...... 15:45  |  Palestinian Brit 06/07/08
      104.   Just like a US lynching 16:16  |  W 06/07/08
      105.   The settler movement is the biggest barrier to peace. 16:26  |  Ibrahim 06/07/08
      106.   Bring the Settlers Home 16:31  |  Eldar 06/07/08
      107.   The settlers have no fear of the army 16:45  |  Tosefta 06/07/08
      108.   #92 judith in occupied USA 16:46  |  Labhras 06/07/08
      109.   # 42 Gil..Methinks The Usual "Pallywood" Exercise.. 17:06  |  KATHY 06/07/08
      110.   #56 JEW LEFT`S STAGED ATTACK 100% PROVEN THEY ARE THE INSTIGATORS 17:11  |  KATHY 06/07/08
      111.   Lahbras correct about Native Americans 17:14  |  judith 06/07/08
      112.   # 82 Genuine Tosefta ,,,This almost loks like a version By Amira 17:17  |  KATHY 06/07/08
      113.   Anwar of Ramallah and new concepts 17:28  |  x-ray 06/07/08
      114.   # 93 *BEN JABO And to ALL THE DELUDED ONES."EVER HEARD OF" 17:38  |  KATHY 06/07/08
      115.   # 45Good reason of only 15 and hiding the rest is Haaretz` 17:47  |  KATHY 06/07/08
      116.   The time Is Long Overdue to... 17:50  |  Gray 06/07/08
      117.   sh 18:00  |  GABE1 06/07/08
      118.   # 90 fred.Haaretz is too ashamed to publish posts,like some of us 18:03  |  KATHY 06/07/08
      119.   Iran can help clean the illegal settlers from the west bank 18:16  |  Aounist 06/07/08
      120.   #90 Fred you are not 18:31  |  gordon beach 06/07/08
      121.   Ibrahim 18:39  |  judith 06/07/08
      122.   We can`t rewduce ourselves to our enemies level. 18:52  |  Dr David I. Gross 06/07/08
      123.   In Palestine: 449 dead, including 66 children in first half of 20 18:56  |  Dav 06/07/08
      124.   Judith; Not exactly.. 19:16  |  Gray 06/07/08
      125.   Kathy and Fred.... I wonder... 19:20  |  Gray 06/07/08
      126.   Ben Jabo - what an imagination you have! 19:48  |  Palestinian Brit 06/07/08
      127.   These settlers` homes shoyuld be demolished 19:52  |  Jozef 06/07/08
      128.   Gray, send me your "reliable" sources 20:04  |  judith 06/07/08
      129.   GREY #124 20:06  |  JOJO 06/07/08
      130.   Gray again 20:07  |  judith 06/07/08
      131.   Pallywood? 20:08  |  wibism 06/07/08
      132.   Gray again 20:09  |  j 06/07/08
      133.   Dav 20:13  |  judith 06/07/08
      134.   Settlers tie Palestinian man to phone pole and beat 20:30  |  SAM 06/07/08
      135.   Kathy finds oppositon so inconvenient 20:31  |  Labhras 06/07/08
      136.   beat the Sharia oppressor 20:42  |  Paul 06/07/08
      137.   unfortunate...BUT 21:01  |  kivi 06/07/08
      138.   # 127 Joseph..Shabat!Heloooooo! LMHO! 21:10  |  KATHY 06/07/08
      139.   Racism at the heart of Israeli inability for Peace 21:19  |  John Isenhower 06/07/08
      140.   re Judith #92 22:05  |  Colin Wright 06/07/08
      141.   #131 kiwi...Just Think Horror of Horrors..Who would ever forget! 22:11  |  KATHY 06/07/08
      142.   #13 Amazing that EVERY incident needs to be broadcast in the US 22:34  |  DesMnsDave 06/07/08
      143.   Haaretz Censors 22:38  |  Gabe1 06/07/08
      144.   Judith; Response to vitrolic fit 22:47  |  Gray 06/07/08
      145.   #128 judith and reliable sources 22:50  |  Labhras 06/07/08
      146.   Hello JoJo... Thanks for your civil post... 00:11  |  Gray 07/07/08
      147.   They can cut off our heads..... 00:21  |  Ezekial 07/07/08
      148.   Documenting Settler Violence 00:34  |  U.S. in South Hebron 07/07/08
      149.   #111 judith 00:44  |  Labhras 07/07/08
      150.   #111 judith 00:47  |  Labhras 07/07/08
      151.   levi and terrorism 01:05  |  Truth 07/07/08
      152.   colin wright read about the buldozer 01:08  |  Truth 07/07/08
      153.   Aabs Lie, Anti Semites Lie, Just like the Al-Dura Lie 01:30  |  JMK 07/07/08
      154.   My perspective 02:59  |  Mark Lincoln 07/07/08
      155.   Apologists 03:04  |  GABE1 07/07/08
      156.   KATHY 03:05  |  GABE1 07/07/08
      157.   Re: U.S. in South Hebron 03:11  |  Bruce 07/07/08
      158.   ~#1 the video is too short . should have continued 03:11  |  Gisele 07/07/08
      159.   Shalit`s hand or arm. 03:12  |  Ahmed 07/07/08
      160.   #58, Colin Wright 03:18  |  Bruce 07/07/08
      161.   Gabe1 Re: 143 "Haaretz Censors 03:25  |  Gray 07/07/08
      162.   settlers tie and beat Palestinian 03:31  |  David 07/07/08
      163.   re.jared 03:37  |  re;cowards 07/07/08
      164.   #66, eric... 03:40  |  Silvienne 07/07/08
      165.   Palestinian Brit and the bulldozer driver... 03:43  |  Silvienne 07/07/08
      166.   I wish these were lies 04:01  |  SD 07/07/08
      167.   Israeli law versus Arab terrorism 04:41  |  Steve 07/07/08
      168.   SD from NJ 04:54  |  Steve 07/07/08
      169.   "activists" 05:12  |  hollingsworth 07/07/08
      170.   Lahbras, YES 05:15  |  judith 07/07/08
      171.   COLIN WRIGHT, YOU ARE WRONG 05:19  |  judith 07/07/08
      172.   Gray, pot calling kettle black 05:21  |  judith 07/07/08
      173.   LAHBRAS 05:28  |  judith 07/07/08
      174.   Judith, Please 06:27  |  Gray 07/07/08
      175.   #55 "ROOT" cause 06:48  |  BOy Wonder 07/07/08
      176.   No more nice guys - Disciplinary example is necessary 06:57  |  RW 07/07/08
      177.   Colin Wright, LAHBRAS & Gray - Judith is wright 07:30  |  Expelled Arab Jew 07/07/08
      178.   Colin Wright, Palestinone Brit, Anwar Ramallah -Jordan is Pale 07:40  |  Aziz UK 07/07/08
      179.   Colin Wright, Palestinone Brit, Anwar Ramallah -Jordan is Pale 07:40  |  Aziz UK 07/07/08
      180.   #165 Srange Logic 08:11  |  Sheikh Rattle & Roll 07/07/08
      181.   Gray how is equality 22 countries for Arabs, n/one for Jews? 08:29  |  x-ray 07/07/08
      182.   Gee, Marlene 08:41  |  American 07/07/08
      183.   It`s amazing! 08:52  |  Hastaroth 07/07/08
      184.   #177 Gee,"American"..... 08:56  |  Hastaroth 07/07/08
      185.   Factual sources are more reliable 09:14  |  American 07/07/08
      186.   Jewish Sate: Can I have my one kick on you? 09:45  |  Tupac 07/07/08
      187.   Yishai: In a true democracy you are innocent till proven quitly 09:47  |  Tupac 07/07/08
      188.   Colin in LA: Just like the R King beating by LAPD never happened 09:52  |  Tupac 07/07/08
      189.   BEN JABO: Are you an American? Innocent till proven guilty 10:03  |  Tupac 07/07/08
      190.   BEN JABO: Illegal house? You mean the settelments 10:14  |  Tupac 07/07/08
      191.   Tupac... 17:25  |  Silvienne 07/07/08
      192.   xray 181 17:40  |  potobac 07/07/08
      193.   Hello, Expelled Arab Jew; Thanks... 22:24  |  Gray 07/07/08
      194.   #84, Hilda...to Natallie 00:39  |  Silvienne 08/07/08
      195.   #189;Tupac & #191;Silvienne 03:54  |  Doc Holliday 10/07/08
      196.   #189 Tupac - Sorry I missed your post until now 20:00  |  * BEN JABO 11/07/08
      197.   #191 Silvienne to Tupac 20:04  |  * BEN JABO 11/07/08
      198.   #195, Doc Holliday... 05:11  |  Silvienne 12/07/08
      199.   #196, Ben Jabo... 05:12  |  Silvienne 12/07/08
      200.   #197, Ben Jabo...I read it here! 05:16  |  Silvienne 12/07/08
      201.   #200 Silvienne - You`re leaving out a few things 06:33  |  * BEN JABO 12/07/08
      202.   Ben Jabo.... 06:02  |  Silvienne 13/07/08
      203.   #202 Silvienne - It`s high time you learned 16:49  |  * BEN JABO 13/07/08
      204.   #203 Silvienne - Let`s do things the easy way 20:55  |  * BEN JABO 13/07/08
      205.   Bothersome 13:50  |  Allan 24/07/08
      206.   so called settlers 21:05  |  Paul Tenenbaum 29/07/08
      207.   A national shame 08:09  |  Zak Lamont 13/03/09
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