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Last update - 14:58 06/07/2008
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