Palestinian wounded in clashes with settlers near West Bank village of Kusra
By SHOSHANA KRANISHUpdated: DECEMBER 12, 2017 15:25Palestinians clash with Israeli troops in the West Bank village of Kusra(photo credit: MOHAMAD TOROKMAN/REUTERS)
At least one Palestinian was reported injured by gunfire following clashes between settlers and Palestinians outside the village of Kusra, near Nablus, in the West Bank, according to Hebrew media reports.According to Hebrew media reports, dozens of Palestinians were involved in the clashes.A group reported to be right-wing settlers from the "Jewish Power" party entered the hills near the village to reassert their presence in the area and to protest clashes between a group of 20 Jewish youth and Palestinian residents of the village last week.The youths had gone on a hiking trip to celebrate a bar mitzva; two of the fathers of the teens said that Palestinians began throwing rocks at the group. A gunfight ensued and one Palestinian was shot dead and two Israelis were wounded in the violence.One of the settlers told journalists: "We are not afraid and we do not need permission to travel in the Land of Israel.''Ghassan Dahglas, a Palestinian Authority official in charge of monitoring settlements in the West Bank, said that the army had hit the injured man with live fire. He added that the Palestinian is in critical condition and is being treated at the Rafidiya Hospital in Nablus.IDF forces, border police and Israeli police are working to disperse the crowds. According to the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, protesters are hurling rocks, Molotov cocktails and burning tires towards the solders.A Facebook page called ''Qusra Now" posted a photo of the injured man alive and on a stretcher, being treated by a Red Crescent paramedic.This morning, the IDF declared the open areas around the village to be closed and accessible for the military only.
