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Archive: Adei Ad outpost Photo by Nir Kafri
Settlers from the Adei Ad illegal outpost in the West Bank threw stones on Friday at an American consulate convoy, which arrived at the area to examine complaints that settlers destroyed Palestinian-owned olive groves the day before.
One of the landowners in the village is an American citizen, Israel Radio reported.
The bulletproof American vehicles only sustained light damage, and no one was hurt.
The American diplomats from the U.S. consulate in Jerusalem arrived at the area after receiving complaints from Palestinians from the village of Turmusayya that settlers uprooted 5,000 olive saplings on Thursday. The saplings were planted in a plot which was only recently cultivated after years of legal battles.
Upon their arrival, settlers from Adei Ad approached the convoy, a confrontation developed, and the Americans left.
According to Israel Police, the accompanying American security personnel did not use their weapons during the incident. However, a settler from Adei Ad who asked not to be named told Reuters that at least two security guards drew their weapons. "One had a pistol, the other an M-16, and they pointed them at the settlers," he was quoted as saying. Army Radio also reported that one security guard brandished his firearm.
An Israeli police spokeswoman said the delegation arrived at Adei Ad in U.S. diplomatic cars without first having coordinated the visit with Israeli authorities.
"Rocks were thrown at them by residents of Adei Ad. We are investigating. Arrests have yet to be made," the spokeswoman said.
The U.S. has yet to issue a statement on the event.
The area where the confrontation took place is where last month Palestinian Minister Ziad Abu Ein died after he was involved in a confrontation with Israeli officers during a protest held as part of the struggle of Turmusiya and Al Mugheir against Adei Ad, which has taken control of their land and prevented them from cultivating it.
Settlers throw stones at U.S. consulate convoy in West Bank - Diplomacy and Defense Israel News | Haaretz
[A reminder: Stone throwers can get 20 years jail time in Israel... if they're non-Jewish -- RFS.]
