Israeli Peace Activist Assaulted by Settlers

Israeli Peace Activist Assaulted by Settlers While Soldiers Look On

Today a group of 5 Israeli Ta'ayush peace activists visited the town of Yanoon near Nablus on a fact finding trip concerning the Palestinian farm on which two members of the ISM were assaulted on Wednesday (see ISM Press email of 29 Jan).

A joint Ta'ayush-ISM team (1 Israeli, 1 Briton and 1 Japanese) obtained permission from the Army to visit the farm where the attack took place (the Palestinians owners have not dared to visit the land since Wednesday). After they arrived at the farm they were met by a force of soldiers. 3 settlers arrived a few minutes later.

One of the settlers shouted at the Ta'ayush activist in Hebrew: "You're here to put us in jail. We're going to kill you!"

He then hit him in the face with his assault rifle breaking his nose.

The settler's name was Victor Avery who is the leader of the Itamar Settlement and has been terrorizing peace activists and the people of the surrounding Palestinian villages for years. The army did nothing to restrain him and have not sought to arrest him. According to the Ta'ayush activists Victor Avery's immunity is due to his political connections (he has friends in the Israeli Cabinet).

The injured Ta'ayush activist was taken to hospital for treatment.

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