Police arrest settlers in shooting of Palestinians

Police raided the West Bank outpost Esh Kodesh early Tuesday morning and arrested five people in connection with a February shooting incident that saw two Palestinians hospitalized, one in critical condition, with injuries caused by what the IDF at the time said were shots fired by settlers.

Esh Kodesh residents condemned the “reckless” police action, during which several weapons were also confiscated, Army Radio reported.

Tensions have often flared between Esh Kodesh, an isolated settlement with a handful of families, and Palestinians from neighboring villages.

On February 24, an IDF official confirmed that two Palestinians were shot during an extended confrontation between Jewish settlers, Palestinians and IDF troops, adding that the bullets appeared to have been fired by the settlers since the soldiers were not using live ammunition.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity, in line with military policy.

Villagers said the February clashes began when a group of settlers encroached on their village lands and fired guns.

They said settlers chased a Palestinian farmer and his family off land, prompting the farmer to call on residents to confront the settlers, and men on both sides hurled rocks at each other.

The Israeli military official said about 200 Palestinians and 25 settlers took part in the clashes, and Israeli forces dispersed Palestinian protesters using “riot dispersal means.” 

At the time, Esh Kodesh spokesman Aharon Katsoff said the settlers respected the military’s orders, which prohibit carrying arms outside of the outpost, and did not fire live ammunition at the Palestinians.