West Bank settlements hit by fires believed to be Palestinian revenge attacks

Julie Wiener

(JTA) — Dozens of residents of a West Bank settlement were evacuated from their homes after inhaling smoke from a brush fire suspected of being set by Palestinians.

Thirty residents of Beit Hagai, a settlement in the Hebron Hills, were treated for smoke inhalation Friday, the Jerusalem Post reported. The fire is believed to be a revenge attack for the deadly fire that killed a Palestinian toddler and injured his family Thursday.

Thursday’s fire, allegedly started by Jewish extremists, has been widely condemned by Palestinian and Israeli leaders and has triggered rioting throughout the West Bank.

A Palestinian passerby who had tried to help put out Friday’s fire was among those injured in the Beit Haggai blaze, according to the Post.

Similar fires were also reported in Yitzhar, another West Bank settlement, and there are also reports throughout the West Bank of Palestinians hurling rocks at Israeli motorists.

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service – if this is your content and you’re reading it on someone else’s site, please read the FAQ at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php#publishers.