Five Palestinians suffer injuries in colonist attack near Bethlehem

BETHLEHEM: Five Palestinians Wednesday evening suffered injuries in an Israeli colonist attack close to Wadi Rahhal, south of the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem, according to security sources. They said that Israeli colonists, under Israeli military protection, attacked Palestinians at Khallet an-Nahla in Wadi Rahhal, opening live fire towards them and injuring five people. A Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) source confirmed that the assailants attacked a PRCS ambulance crew, prevented by the soldiers from providing first aid treatment to the casualties. Colonist violence against Palestinians and their property is routine in the West Bank and is rarely prosecuted by Israeli occupation authorities. Colonist violence includes property and mosque arsons, stone-throwing, uprooting of crops and olive trees, and attacks on vulnerable homes, among others. Over 700,000 Israeli colonists are living in colonies across occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank in violation of international law. Sourc e: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA