The family of Manhal Hussein, 14, from Jeet village, south west of Nablus, denounced the Israeli decision to release four settlers who attacked their son at a junction near the entrance of the village while he was selling vegetables.
Hussein said that he was selling some vegetables at the junction to help his family during the month of Ramadan when he was approached by four settlers who attacked and kicked him; Hussein was selling vegetables everyday after school.
The child headed towards Qadumim settlement in the area and filed a complaint to the Israeli District Coordination Officer. The officer took the statement of the child and arrested the four settlers on Monday.
The settlers did not only attack and abuse the child, they also hurled stones at dozens of Palestinian vehicles, causing damage, yet they were released two days after their arrest.
The settlers were confined to night house arrest, and barred from entering the Palestinian areas.
Several residents from the village also said that the settlers are well known to them since they repeatedly attacked them and chased them, in addition to chasing several farmers while working in their farmlands.
The Israeli prosecution filed, on Thursday, charges against the four settlers and demanded the court to extend their remand until the end of legal proceedings against them.
The four, along with a fifth settler, who was not arrested, stole two mobile phones from the child, threw the vegetables on the ground, and severely punched him. They took away the two phones, which belong to his brothers in order to bar him from calling the police.
Israeli police releases four settler youth held over abusing a Pal. child
Saed Bannoura-IMEMC & Agencies – Thursday, 03 November 2005
The Israeli police in the West Bank released on Wednesday four settler youth who were held on Monday, October 24, after abusing a Palestinian child and throwing stones at Palestinian vehicles.
The four settler youth are from Qadumim settlement; they were released under the condition of not entering the Palestinian areas, and to remain under night house arrest.
The Israeli prosecution filed charges against the four settler-youth last Thursday, and demanded that they remain in remand until the end of legal proceedings against them.
The prosecution said that the four youth, along with a fifth settler, ambushed Palestinian vehicles near Jeet Junction, and attacked a 13-year-old Palestinian child who was selling vegetables near the junction.
The settlers struck the child, threw the vegetables on the street, and stole two mobile phones which belong to his brothers in order to bar him from calling the police.
After attacking the child, the settlers ambushed Palestinian vehicles and hurled stones at them in the same area.
The four were identified as Ozi’el Shalif, 18, Shimon Shalter, 19, Haim Klein, 21, and Yarif Shipo, 21.
The four are charged of conducting violations which endangered human life, and causing damage. Yet, the court decided to release them.
