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Sun. Oct. 5 2008
Shepherd Died Accidentally, Israeli Police Say
JTA Wire Service
A Bedouin shepherd found dead in the West Bank that Palestinians blamed settlers for killing died after picking up an unexploded grenade, according to police. The body of the 19-year-old was found near Nablus. An autopsy showed that he died after losing a lot of blood as a result of picking up a 40-millimeter grenade and detonating it.
Palestinians said his alleged murder was part of ongoing harassment by settlers against Palestinians.A statement from the Homesh First settler organization expressed anger that the settlers would be blamed before an investigation took place.
“There’s no doubt that all settlers are responsible for the murder in the Valley. There is also no doubt that all settlers planted the pipe bomb which exploded on Prof. Sternhell’s front door,” the statement said, referring to an incident involving an Israel Prize-winning professor who has taken a stand against the settlement movement. “We will also take responsibility for all the Christian children who disappeared last Passover,” the statement goes on. “There is no need to believe every ridiculous accusation of the Palestinians.”
The Jerusalem Post reported that Jewish visits to Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus have been suspended indefinitely to punish settlers for not forcefully condemning recent attacks on Palestinians and soldiers. Jews were permitted only recently to make monthly visits accompanied by the Israeli army to the holy site, which had been destroyed by rampaging Palestinians at the beginning of the second intifada in 2000.
This story reprinted courtesy of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.