Palestinian sources in Hebron, in the southern part of the West Bank, reported on Monday that settlers from the illegal settlement outposts installed in the center of the city, attempted to demolish several Palestinian shops in the old Clothes Market close to the illegal settlement outpost of Abraham Abino.The sources stated that heavily armed settlers drove a bulldozer into the area and attempted to demolish the shops, but dozens of residents rushed to the area and clashed with them.
The Palestinian News Agency, WAFA, reported that several residents were severely beaten by settlers and soldiers, and that several other residents were detained before the army declared the area a ‘closed military zone’.
The army did not arrest any settlers, in spite of their attack.
Mustafa Natsha, head of the Hebron Municipality, denounced the attack against the Clothes Market and said that the settlers are always attempting to expand their illegal outpost. He added that the settlers repeatedly attacked a mosque in that area, in addition to attacking private Palestinian property.
Natsha added that soldiers are always backing the settlers and do not attempt to evacuate the illegal settlement outposts. They also fail to attempt to stop the continuous settler attacks against the Palestinian residents, especially against the children while they are heading to school.
In a separate incident, settlers who have been controlling a Palestinian market by force since 1994 marched in the area, chanted slogans against the Palestinians, and called for expelling them from the city.
The settlers occupied the market on February 25th, 1994, after Baruch Goldenstein opened fire at worshipers praying at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron killing 29 Palestinians and injuring dozens of other worshipers before some of the worshipers managed to kill him.
