In light of PA (Palestinian Authority) reports of three residents of Qusra south of Shechem wounded by gunfire on Shabbos afternoon, ballistic testing will be conducted of weapons in nearby Eish Kodesh. The residents of the community deny firing their weapons. PA sources first indicated the wounded residents were fired upon by soldiers during violent protests on Shabbos afternoon. After the IDF denied the use of live gunfire at the location, they are blaming “settlers” for the gunfire.

Eish Kodesh spokesman Aaron Katuf told Walla News that they are not permitted to leave their community with their weapons as per a directive from the area military commander. There is a first response team which is armed and that is all. He added that despite the fact that many Arabs came within 250 meters of the community, they did not open fire.

As was reported by YWN-ISRAEL on motzei Shabbos, the IDF used riot control measures to restore calm. These measures included teargas, stun grenades and rubber coated bullets. IDF officials deny using live ammunition.

MK (Bayit HaYehudi) responded as well, stating that the fact that the Arabs attacked the community’s vineyard and uprooted so many vines seems to slip under the radar. Struck called on the minister of defense to track down those responsible and arrest them so they may stand trial for the attack. She warns that these attacks mustn’t be viewed as isolated incidents because they are far more serious and may lead to a significant deterioration of the security situation in the area.

The increased violence in that area seems to be fueled by ongoing hunger strikes by terrorists imprisoned in Israel. The violence and hunger strikes are intended to increase international political pressure on Israel to improve conditions for prisoners, to release some of them and to make additional concession to the PA.

A terrorist died on cardiac arrest in Megiddo Prison on Shabbos. Officials are investigating the cause of that death, which is being used as the excuse for Sunday’s 14 Adar 5773 hunger strike and violence in areas of Yehuda and Shomron.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)