HATRED - AMERICA'S MAIN EXPORT TO THE MIDDLE EAST

American arrested for assaulting Palestinians

by Efrat Weiss - Oct 10, 2007

Hebron District Police arrested a Jewish United States citizen on suspicion of attacking and beating a number of Palestinians during a Simchat Torah celebration in the West Bank city last week.

The Simchat Torah holiday marks the renewal of the annual cycle of reading the bible, and is celebrated by singing and dancing and parading the Torah scrolls. In Hebron, while settlers and their guests paraded through the streets with the scrolls, a number of right-wing activists assaulted Palestinian bystanders, Ynet has learned. Moreover, the incident was caught on film.
Jewish residents of Hebron apparently tried to get the situation under control and separate the sides. The incident was recorded by a human rights' activists who was at the scene.

Palestinians filed a complaint against the attackers with the Hebron District Police following the incident.

In response, police said: "There was in fact an incident in which a number of Palestinians were attacked, and in their testimony they even described what one of the attackers was wearing. Police opened searches for the offenders, and simultaneously a video tape was brought to the police station which documented the incident. Shortly afterwards an attacker was arrested – a Jewish citizen of the United States.

"The citizen was questioned, jailed and brought to the Jerusalem District Court, then was released with a restraining order. He was summoned for further questioning Sunday, and his passport was confiscated," police said.

'Provocation at every opportunity'

Peace Now secretary-general Yariv Oppenheimer said: "Hebron settlers don't miss a change to provoke and abuse Palestinians in the city, with the aim of making life in the area unbearable. to ultimately force them out of their homes. Hebron police must take the proper procedures against the violent offenders."

Noam Arnon, spokesperson for the Jewish settlement in Hebron's council, said in response: "I wasn't there, but from the information I have received there was a provocation against the Jews, which infuriated the guests, especially since it was a holiday and everyone's goal was to celebrate and not to fight."