19 July 2011 | Christian Peace Makers Team
At-Tuwani: Palestinians protest expansion of Havat Ma’on Outpost; Israeli Military responds with violence
On 18 July 2011 around 6:35 p.m. three settlers attacked two members of Operation Dove and one member of the Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) with clubs and stones in the Meshakha valley outside of At-Tuwani in the South Hebron Hills. The settlers came out of the Havat Ma’on outpost, covering their faces with scarves and then ran with clubs toward two Palestinian shepherds who were grazing their sheep in a valley nearby. The masked settlers could not catch the shepherds who, alerted to the approaching danger, left the vicinity. The attackers then turned and ran toward the internationals, who had entered the valley to intervene and document the attack. The settlers then made threats and attempted to strike the internationals as they filmed the settlers’ actions. When the internationals retreated, the settlers begin throwing stones, narrowly missing their targets.
No Palestinians or internationals were injured in the incident. This incident follows a similar attack of 13 July 2011 where three settler youth attacked Palestinian shepherds. Five attacks by settlers from the outpost of Havat Ma’on against internationals and Palestinians have occurred within the last 30 days.
Operation Dove and Christian Peacemaker Teams have maintained an international presence in At-Tuwani and South Hebron Hills since 2004.
Additional photos of the incident are available here. (The unmasked men in the photos are the internationals)
Video of the incident is available here.