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Right-wing activist pours boiling water on Meretz MKs in Hebron
June 17, 2008
A right-wing activist on Tuesday poured boiling water
on MKs belonging to the left-wing Meretz party during a tour of the
West Bank city of Hebron.
The incident occurred while Hebron setters clashed with the MKs and
other members of a tour led by "Breaking The Silence," an organization
of demobilized Israel Defense Forces soldiers who document alleged
harassment of Palestinians in the territories.
Hebron's settlers, however, denied any connection to the violence. "Members of the settlement and their guests did not
curse or pour a cup of tea [on the tour]," said Noam Arnon, the
spokesman for the West Bank town's settlers.
According to the tour's guides, settlers encircled the group,
called them "traitors," and poured boiling water on the group. A police
officer and a Spanish journalist were wounded in the incident.
Arnon said that, "If someone did this, it was an irresponsible and
inappropriate act. There was a noisy demonstration that expressed the
direct responsibility of the Left for the spilling of blood that
stemmed from the Oslo [peace] accords - Arab as well as Jewish - all
within the framework of a democratic demonstration and the expressing
of opinion."
The settlers' spokesman added that left-wing activists were under
full security protection, but there was no need for this as "there was
no desire to hurt them."
Meretz aide gets into hot water in Hebron
June, 18, 2008
An assistant to MK Yossi Beilin and a Spanish journalist were showered with hot water by right-wing activists protesting a visit by Meretz activists to Hebron, Tuesday. Neither was injured.
The Meretz members visited to support the rights group Breaking the Silence (Shovrim Shtika), which was barred by security forces from entering the Israeli-controlled part of Hebron following an illegal rally in April.
A few weeks ago, a compromise with the police allowed the group to return to the city on a three-month trial basis so long as it coordinated its activities with security forces.
On Tuesday, Meretz and Breaking the Silence members marched down a main street in Hebron and also visited the home of Palestinian shop owner Hani Abuhaikal.