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RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- Dozens of settlers from Migron outpost assaulted a farmer on Wednesday north of Jerusalem, leaving him with multiple injuries, local officials said.

"Dozens of settlers chased the farmer, Abed al-Kareem Maikel Abu Ali, 57, for about 500 meters and beat him with iron bars, stones and sticks," activist Saed Allah Khaled Abu Ali told Ma'an.

Four farmers had gone to check their lands near Mikhmas village after reports that settlers had cut down around 150 olive trees, village council official Muhammad Kanan said.

The farmers were attacked as they arrived at their land, with 30 settlers lying in wait. They all managed to escape apart from Abed al-Kareem Maikel Abu Ali, who was subsequently beaten by the group of settlers for around 40 minutes, Kanan said.


Dozens of settlers assault Palestinian farmer
Published today (updated) 26/09/2012 17:41
Abed al-Kareem Maikel Abu Ali, 57, was beaten for around 40
minutes by dozens of settlers.
RAMALLAH (Ma'an) -- Dozens of settlers from Migron outpost assaulted a farmer on Wednesday north of Jerusalem, leaving him with multiple injuries, local officials said.

"Dozens of settlers chased the farmer, Abed al-Kareem Maikel Abu Ali, 57, for about 500 meters and beat him with iron bars, stones and sticks," activist Saed Allah Khaled Abu Ali told Ma'an.

Four farmers had gone to check their lands near Mikhmas village after reports that settlers had cut down around 150 olive trees, village council official Muhammad Kanan said.

The farmers were attacked as they arrived at their land, with 30 settlers lying in wait. They all managed to escape apart from Abed al-Kareem Maikel Abu Ali, who was subsequently beaten by the group of settlers for around 40 minutes, Kanan said.


Israeli soldiers were present in the area but reportedly did not intervene.

"We shouted at the Israeli soldiers, and we told them that they are responsible for everything that is going on. They are responsible to treat the Palestinian farmer," Abu Ali told Ma'an.

"After a lot of pressure, an ambulance was able to take the farmer, and just one hour later, we were surprised to find out that the ambulance was stopped at Jaba checkpoint," he said.

Hours later having been allowed through, the ambulance was then stopped at Hizma checkpoint and forbidden to pass. An ambulance from the Red Crescent took the injured farmer and he was transferred to a Jerusalem hospital, Abu Ali said.

An Israeli army spokeswoman said there were no reports of the incident.