Palestinians today fended off a settler attempt to storm an Ottoman-era site in al-Lubban ash-Sharqiya village, south of Nablus city, according to WAFA correspondent.

He said that a number of settlers gathered in the vicinity of Khan al-Laban area, famous for its water spring, in the village, as Israeli forces provided protection for them, and attempted to prevent Palestinian villagers from performing Friday prayer there.

Israeli soldiers opened fire towards the villagers who repelled the attempt to storm the site, causing dozens to suffocate from tear gas inhalation.

The settlers came from the nearby colonial settlement of Ma'ale Levona, established in 1983 on the villagers’ lands.

Khan al-Laban, which dates back to the Ottoman era and covers an area of 300 donums, has been subject to frequent attack by settler, who enjoy the protection of the Israeli military, in order to seize as it is located in the area connecting the colonial settlements of Alie and Ma'ale Levona.

Settler violence against Palestinians and their property is routine in the West Bank and is rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities.

Settlers‘ violence includes property and mosque arsons, stone-throwing, uprooting of crops and olive trees, attacks on vulnerable homes, among others.

There are over 700,000 Israeli settlers living in colonial settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem in violation of international law.

 

Source: Wafa News Agency