2 attempt self-immolation in W. Bank, Kfar Saba

Man douses himself in flammable liquid at branch of National Insurance Institute before being stopped by police.

By BEN HARTMAN
Self Immolation 370 (photo credit: REUTERS)
Self Immolation 370
(photo credit: REUTERS)
In both Israel and the West Bank on Tuesday, people reportedly suffering from economic and emotional distress tried to set themselves on fire.
In Kfar Saba, a man doused himself with flammable liquid and tried to set himself ablaze at a local branch of the National Insurance Institute, before he was stopped by a police officer on the scene.
According to Sharon subdistrict police, the Rishon Lezion native was treated at the scene and has been referred to social services for further treatment.
Earlier on Tuesday, a Palestinian man in the Arab village of Dura near Hebron poured gasoline over his body and threatened to set himself on fire at a local municipality building but was stopped by security officers, the Palestinian news agency Ma’an reported.
Dura Mayor Ziad Rajoub identified the man as Khaled Abu Rabia, 42, who is married to two women and has 10 children. He said that Abu Rabia, who works for the PA police force, arrived in the morning at the municipality carrying a bottle filled with petrol and announced that he was planning to set himself on fire. Passersby and PA policemen who were summoned to the municipality succeeded in preventing the self-immolation.
Earlier this week, 18-yearold Ihab Abu Nada, from a Gaza City refugee camp, set himself aflame, reportedly in protest of his family’s dire economic situation.
The wave of such acts in Israel and the Palestinian areas began on July 14, when social justice protester Moshe Silman set himself on fire at a Tel Aviv protest.
Silman died a week later of his burns, and was followed by a disabled IDF veteran who died after lighting himself on fire at a gas station outside Yehud in late July.
Several incidents, some more serious and – tragically – more successful than others, have since followed on a weekly basis.
Khaled Abu Toameh contributed to this report.