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Wounded Najah Abu Ali in a hospital in Ramallah, August 18, 2013. Photo by Iyad Haddad / B'tselem


Six assailants allegedly stabbed 47-year-old Najah Abu Ali and his flock; Police investigating.

By Chaim Levinson for Haaretz

Police opened an investigation Sunday into the assault of a Palestinian shepherd near an Israeli outpost in the West Bank.

Najah Abu Ali, 47, was attacked on Saturday morning by masked men not far from Ramat Migron, an illegal outpost located near the settlement of Migron, just north of Jerusalem. Abu Ali was admitted in moderate to serious condition to a Ramallah hospital.

Abu Ali and several other Palestinian shepherds from the nearby village of Mukmas said the attack occurred after they crossed Route 60 through an underground passage. They said Abu Ali, who crossed first, was confronted by six masked men carrying sticks and sharp objects who jumped him. The attackers allegedly hit Abu Ali in the head and stabbed him, and also stabbed some animals in his flock. The other shepherds, who had followed Abu Ali into the crossing, found him seriously wounded, and saw the attackers flee.

The shepherds then carried Abu Ali to the road and stopped a passing car, which took him to hospital. He was found to have several fractures and reportedly needed 75 stitches to his head and upper body. He later filed a police complaint with the help of human rights organization B’tselem.

Following the attack, the Judea and Samaria Police opened an investigation.

The Ramat Migron outpost is identified with young, extreme right-wing settlers known as the hilltop youth. In recent years, several Palestinians have been attacked and property destructed in the area.