Settlers arrested after attacking IDF soldiers near Sussiya

IDF soldiers were attacked by West Bank settlers Saturday after arriving at the scene of clashes between settlers and Palestinians near the village of Sussiya, south of Hebron, police said.

Authorities received reports that settlers had spray-painted a Star of David and written the word “revenge” in a field near the Palestinian village, in what authorities suspect may have been a hate crime.

So-called “price tag” attacks, usually arson and graffiti, have previously been carried out by Jewish extremists against non-Jews as revenge for actions by Israeli officials, as well as following terror attacks.

Israeli military personnel who arrived at the scene were reportedly attacked by three settlers who refused to leave the area — in violation of army orders barring Israelis from the area.

The three were then arrested according to media reports, and police opened an investigation into the reported “price tag” attack.

The Palestinian village faces a high court-approved demolition order, and Israelis from the nearby settlement of the same name occasionally clash with neighboring Palestinians.