Suspects allegedly set home in West Bank outpost on fire prompting settlers, Palestinians to throw rocks at one another.
By YAAKOV LAPPIN, TOVAH LAZAROFFGilad farm ruins (R) 311(photo credit: Reuters)
The army arrested three Palestinians following an arson attack on the Gilad Farm outpost in the West Bank on Tuesday.The army received a report that one homes was set on fire, and dispatched men to the scene, an IDF spokesman said.By that stage, settlers and Palestinians were throwing rocks at one another, the spokesman added. Soldiers moved in to end the confrontation.Two Palestinians were arrested on suspicion of carrying out the arson, and a third was arrested for attacking soldiers.The three suspects were handed over to Judea and Samaria police.In September 2009, Palestinians infiltrated the outpost and burned down two homes. Three others were damaged in the blaze.Established in 2002, Gilad Farm is located around 1.5 kilometers from the Kedumim settlement and is named for Gilad Zar, the Samaria Regional Council security coordinator who was killed by a Palestinian sniper in May 2001 as he drove near the Yitzhar junction near Nablus.Zar’s father, Moshe, says that he owns the land on which the outpost stands. Palestinians claim, however, that the outpost was built on land belonging to Far’ata village.Separately settlers and Palestinian shepherds clashed briefly near the Moan settlement on Tuesday. According to the IDF, Palestinians and settlers threw stones at one another and one Palestinian fainted.Jerusalem Post staff contributed to this report.
