Violent clashes between IDF and Palestinians break out in Hebron

Dozens of rioters angry at Israel over its failure to release prisoners from its jails throw stones at IDF soldiers.

By TOVAH LAZAROFF, JPOST.COM STAFF
IDF troops Hebron 22.9.13 370 (photo credit: REUTERS)
IDF troops Hebron 22.9.13 370
(photo credit: REUTERS)
For the second day in a row violent clashes broke out between the IDF and Palestinian activists in Hebron by the Policeman’s Checkpoint in the West Bank city.
On Thursday the clashes occurred on the sidelines of a Hebron demonstration to mark Prisoner Security forces responded with riot dispersal means, including tear gas.
The checkpoint separates the section of the city that is under control of the Palestinian Authority from the section of the city that is under Israeli military and civil control.
On both Thursday and Wednesday violence occurred on the Palestinian side, where some 50 rioters angry at Israel over its failure to release prisoners from its jails, threw stones in the direction of the checkpoint.
The rioters also threw stones at IDF soldiers and Border Police who attempted to quell the violence with riot dispersal means that included tear gas.
On Wednesday evening, the IDF injured seven Palestinians in Hebron after clashes broke out by the Policeman’s Checkpoint in which Palestinian rioters also threw stones.
The clashes took place as thousands of visitors streamed to the Cave of the Patriarchs and other Jewish areas of the city under Israeli control so they could celebrate the Passover holiday.
They also took place as Israeli and Palestinian negotiator look to break the impasse in the deadlocked peace talks.
The Palestinian demand that Israeli release 26 Palestinian prisoner involved in past terror attacks against Israelis is on the key issues on the table for extending the negotiations.
All total there are 5,300 Palestinian security prisoners in Israeli jails.
Violence also broke out in Jerusalem on Wednesday where hundreds of Palestinians threw stones and lit fire crackers at police upon opening the main entrance to the Temple Mount.
On Monday a senior Israeli police officer Baruch Mizrachi was killed by a Palestinian terrorist while driving on Route 35 in the West Bank with his family to attend a Passover seder in the Kiryat Arba settlement near Hebron.
Daniel Eisenbud contributed to this report.