The Israel Defense Force clamped curfews on the West Bank towns of Hebron and Ramallah on Sunday, following two days of rioting.
In the wake of the violence that began in Hebron on Friday, members of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron say they are considering an early end to their mission, since they believe they are not accomplishing anything, Israel Television reported.
The unarmed 114-member international observer force arrived in Hebron on May 8 as part of an agreement reached by Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization in the wake of the Feb. 25 Hebron massacre.
Hebron has been the site of nearly daily unrest since that incident, in which at least 29 Palestinians were killed by an Israeli settler at a local mosque.
On Saturday, the town experienced one of its worst days since the massacre, with more than 30 Palestinians wounded, six of them from soldiers’ bullets. Others were victims of tear gas and rubber bullets.
During the course of the day, Palestinian youths erected stone barricades in the streets and hurled rocks at IDF patrols. Rejectionist Arab are believed to be actively encouraging the youths into the streets.
The members of the international observer team witnessed some of what went on in Hebron and recorded their findings, but they are reportedly frustrated that they can do little more than stand on the sidelines and watch.
On Sunday, meanwhile, the IDF prevented Israeli settlers from driving through the autonomous district of Jericho with Israeli flags flying from their cars.
In response, settlers harassed Palestinians to the north of Jericho who were flying their flags and exhibiting pictures of Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Yasser Arafat.
For two hours, the settlers blocked the road, stopping and searching vehicles and tearing whatever flags they found. The settlers repeatedly clashed with Israeli security forces who tried in vain to move them on.
“If we can’t drive through Jericho with our flag, they won’t drive with theirs,” said one of the settlers.
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