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by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

[Thursday Evening, January 16, 2014] Israeli soldiers invaded Beit Ummar town, near the southern West Bank city of Hebron, and kidnapped two Palestinians. Israeli settlers attacked villagers and farmlands east of Hebron.

Mohammad Awad, spokesperson of the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements in Beit Ummar, said that dozens of soldiers invaded the town and kidnapped Morshed Mohammad Awad, 37, who was standing in front of his house when the soldiers attacked and abducted him.

Awad added that the soldiers tried to kidnap Awad’s 9-year old son, Majdy, but the family managed to take him away from the soldiers after a scuffle with them.

Furthermore, the soldiers kidnapped Shihda Yousef ‘Aady, also in Beit Ummar, and took him and Awad to an unknown destination.

In related news, dozens of Israeli settlers invaded Palestinian farmlands and orchards belonging to various families in the Al-Kassara area in Hebron, assaulting several villagers while shouting, cursing and screaming at them.

Resident Shaker Tamimi told the Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA) that the settlers carried batons and weapons.

Tamimi added that the attack is part of a series of serious escalations and assaults, carried out by the settlers against the residents and their orchards in the area, especially since the settlers are trying to expand their Havat Gal illegal settlement outpost, built on private Palestinian lands.