On Saturday, 19.5.2012, around 04:30 p.m., a large group of settlers descended on the eastern outskirts of the village ’Asira al-Qibliya, from the settlement Yitzhar and fired live rounds on Palestinian villagers.
On Saturday, 19.5.2012, around 04:30 p.m., a large group of settlers descended on the eastern outskirts of the village 'Asira al-Qibliya, from the settlement Yitzhar, and fired live rounds on Palestinian villagers.
The footage, filmed by local Palestinian women hiding in their homes on the outskirts of Asira village, shows an alarming and rapid escalation in violence, captured from the moment a group of settlers, some masked and armed with guns, descended from their hilltop settlement.
The video shows the settlers throwing stones at Palestinian homes, and fires beginning to burn. One of the masked settlers was armed with a "Tavor" rifle which is only used by infantry soldiers, raising the suspicion that he is a soldier on leave.
The footage appears to show the settlers gathered on the outskirts of the village throwing rocks. A few minutes later, Zionist boarder police are seen arriving at the fray.
In the scenes that follow, several of the Jewish settlers armed with M4 rifles - one wearing what appears to be a police cap - are seen to point their guns at the group of Palestinian men and open fire. The Zionist soldiers present appear to do nothing to stop them from shooting.
The video footage raises grave suspicions that the soldiers present did not act to prevent the settlers from throwing stones and firing live ammunition at the Palestinians. The soldiers did not try to remove the settlers and in fact are seen standing by settlers while they are shooting and stone throwing.
A 24-year-old Palestinian man was injured in the shooting and five others were wounded by settlers who were throwing stones.
The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights, B'Tselem, has filed a complaint with the police, urging an investigation into the incident, saying that the soldiers "did not adhere to their obligation to protect Palestinians from settler violence."
It has also called for the prosecution of the settlers involved in the violence.
Rights groups have repeatedly accused Zionist troops of refusing to protect Palestinians against the Jewish settlers. Former West Bank Division Commander Brigadier General Nitzan Alon has also said that Zionist soldiers have not been working enough to stop settler attacks on Palestinians, Press TV reported.
Zionist settlers, mostly armed, regularly attack Palestinian villages and farms and set fire to their mosques, olive groves and other properties in the occupied West Bank in what they believe to be the "price tag" for every outpost or West Bank settlement that is demolished.
According to the American daily The Telegraph, the ‘Israeli’ occupation army has said it will investigate the incident caught on video in which troops appear to stand by without intervening as settlers shoot at Palestinians in the West Bank.
In a statement, the military said: "During the confrontation, live fire was used; the incident is currently being investigated by the division commander.”
