Settlers, Palestinians clash in Hebron over easing of restrictions
Violence breaks out during settler demonstration against opening of Kiryat Arba-Cave of the Patriarchs road to Palestinian traffic. Nadia Matar blames Thursday's murder of settler teen on removal of checkpoints, opening of roads, says 'we won't let it happen here too'
Clashes broke out on Saturday between Jewish settlers and Palestinians in Hebron's Jabel Jawar neighborhood during a settler protest against the opening of the Zion Route, which links the settlement of Kiryat Arba to the Cave of the Patriarchs, to Palestinian vehicles.
According to the settlers, Palestinians threw stones from rooftops at settlers trying to enter the neighborhood. In response, the Jewish protestors punctured the tires of Palestinian-owned vehicles and shattered their windshields.
Some 100 settlers took part in the demonstration. Hebron Police detained a youth on suspicion that he assaulted officers during the clashes.
The settlers called the decision to open the route to Palestinian traffic in the current security situation an "outrage".
"We are protesting against the army's decision to open the Zion Route to Arabs," said Yehudit Katzover, wife of former Kiryat Arba Mayor Zvi Katzover.
"Many Jews have been murdered along this route, and the killings will resume should it be reopened," she said, adding that Thursday's murder of teenager Shlomo Nativ at the hands of an axe-wielding Palestinian at the settlement of Bat Ayin was the result of the removal of IDF checkpoints in the West Bank.
Nadia Matar, chairperson of the Women in Green movement, said the fact that Bat Ayin was not surrounded by a security fence was not the reason for the teen's murder.
"A fence cannot prevent terror. What caused the murder was the opening of roads to Palestinian traffic and the lifting of checkpoints under (Defense Minister Ehud) Barak's orders.
"Barak and the security forces are to blame for the murder because they let it happen. We won’t let it happen here as well," she said.
