By Agence France Presse, The Daily Star, 3 December 2008
HEBRON, Occupied West Bank: At least 13 Palestinians and one Israeli were wounded on Tuesday as ultra-nationalist Israelis went on the rampage in the Occupied West Bank city of Hebron, clashing with residents and Israeli security forces. The Israeli rioting broke out as rumors spread that security forces were set to evict 100 Jewish settlers from an occupied house the Israeli high court has ordered evacuated.
Young settlers, backed by right-wing supporters, hurled rocks for several hours at Palestinian homes and police vehicles. Police at one point fired teargas grenades at the protesters, but took no further measures – consistently used against Palestinian activists – to stop the rioting.
Human-rights groups have long denounced Israel’s handling of settler violence with kid gloves in comparison to the brutal tactics employed while putting down even peaceful Palestinian protests.