Teargas fired at Palestinian youths

  • 13 years ago
ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION
Palestinian youths clashed with Israeli soldiers close to the Jewish settlement of Yitzhar.
At least two dozen Israeli settlers attacked Asira al-Qibiliya, throwing rocks at homes in the Palestinian village just south of Nablus.
Youths from the village went out to confront them, also throwing rocks, villagers said.
A spokeswoman for the Israeli army said soldiers had fired tear gas and stun grenades during the disturbance. The Palestinians said that the army was protecting the settlers.
One Palestinian youth was injured when hit by a tear gas canister fired by the soldiers, they said.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas plans on Friday (September 23) to submit an application for full U.N. membership for the state of Palestine based in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the coastal Gaza Strip -- lands occupied by Israel in 1967.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, also expected to attend the U.N. session this week, has denounced the Palestinian step as an attempt to avoid negotiations and challenge Israel's legitimacy.
About 500,000 Jewish settlers have moved into the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in settlements which the Palestinians say undermine the chances of them being able to establish a viable state on the territories occupied in 1967.
Israel has occupied the West Bank and the Gaza Strip since the 1967 war, and the two sides are divided on borders, the status of Jerusalem, the future of Palestinian refugees and whether Israel should be acknowledged as a Jewish state.

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