Several masked Israeli settlers from part of the Occupied Territories, armed with stones and an iron bar, have harassed Palestinian shepherds and attacked two international observers.
The attack near At-Tuwani took place at approximately 9.15am on Wednesday 27 July 2011. The attackers were from the Havat Ma’on outpost
The three shepherds were out with their flocks on Palestinian land near Meshaha hill when the four masked settlers assaulted them.
They were able to get away, but the settlers then hit a member of Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) in the head with an iron bar and destroyed his camera. He went to the hospital in Yatta and received eight stitches.
Christian Peacemaker Teams and Operation Dove have documented six occasions since 22 June 2011 in which settlers from Havat Ma’on have attacked Palestinians or internationals near Meshaha Hill.
CPT offers an organised, nonviolent alternative to war and other forms of lethal inter-group conflict. The established NGO provides organisational support to people committed to faith-based nonviolent alternatives in situations where lethal conflict is an immediate reality or is supported by public policy.
CPT also seeks to enlist the response of the whole church in conscientious objection to war, and in the development of nonviolent institutions, skills and training for intervention in conflict situations.
* More on CPT: http://www.cpt.org/