With the news focusing on the warfare in southern Israel, little is reported regarding what may be a sharp increase in organized Arab and left-wing Israeli violence directed against residents of those communities, along with motorists and security forces throughout Yehuda and Shomron.

In Kiryat Arba on Friday afternoon, a Jewish pedestrian was targeted in a drive-by rock-throwing attack. There were no injuries. A security officer managed to apprehend the suspect vehicle and turn the occupants over to security forces.

According to a report in the daily HaMevaser, later in the day, there were a number of “gatherings” of PA (Palestinian Authority) residents, who attacked security forces and motorists with rocks. There were 80 people involved in such an incident north of Ramallah, 30 in the Na’alin area west of Ramallah, 60 near Bilin, also west of Ramallah, and 250 near Beit Omer, southwest of Beit Lechem. Another incident was reported west of Shechem, where 50 Arabs gathered.

Security forces used riot-control adjuncts to restore order. There were no reports of injuries among security forces.

On Shabbos morning, five Arabs accompanied by seven left-wing activists arrived at the community of Suissa, in the Southern Hebron Hills, to harvest olives, trees that belong to the Jewish community. Six residents arrived and a dispute ensued. The situation escalated and the IDF arrived, declaring the area a ‘closed military zone’, compelling both sides to leave.

Elsewhere in the S. Hebron area, leftists also arrived near Be’er Mitzpei Yair and began illegal digging. Once again, the IDF declared that area a ‘closed military zone’.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)