Settlers attacked Palestinian demonstrators in the Hebron town of Yatta on Saturday, a local committee official said. Ratib al-Jubour, coordinator of local Hebron committees, told Ma’an Palestinian news agency that settlers threw rocks at Palestinians and international activists who had rallied to protest the confiscation of land in al-Hamra and al-Kharrouba. Israeli forces were deployed in the area but did not intervene, al-Jubour said. Fadel Jibreel Rabae, 46, and Muhammad Ali Shawahin, 19, were injured in the attack, he added.

Palestinians of Al-Walaja, together with Palestinian, international, and Israeli supporters march through the West Bank village of Al-Walaja to protest the Israeli separation wall, Friday (September 28). If completed as planned, the wall will surround Al-Walaja and cut off its access to surrounding Palestinian communities. (Photo: Activestills.org)

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas condemned settler violence in a speech to the UN on Thursday. “The escalation of settler attacks should not surprise anyone, for it is the inherent byproduct of the continuation of occupation and a government policy that deliberately fosters the settlements and settlers and deems their satisfaction to be an absolute priority,” Abbas told the General Assembly.