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HEBRON, October 20, 2011 (WAFA) – Groups of extremist Jewish settlers and Israeli soldiers Thursday continued their attacks against students and teachers in Qurtuba and Susiya schools in Hebron, in the southern West Bank, according to local sources.

Qurtuba school principal Ibtisam Al-Jondi said a group of extremist settlers from the settlement of Anat Cohen attacked the students as they were leaving the school. The deputy principal, Feryal Abu Haykal, with the help of several Palestinian residents, tried to keep the settlers away from the students.

Israeli soldiers intervened, handcuffing her hands and arresting her and another resident.

Al-Jondi said Israeli soldiers continue, for the second week, preventing teachers and students from entering the school via the usual road, under the pretext of a decision by the Israeli authorities. Israeli soldiers are preventing the entry of any resident without a thorough search through the electronic gateway at the entrance of Al-Dabboyah checkpoint.

The principle and teachers protested in front of the Israeli checkpoint at the entrance of Shuhada Street in central Hebron, condemning such a decision.

WAFA reporter said that Israeli soldiers tried to prevent journalists from approaching, noting that settlers followed the students all the way to their homes, beating and assaulting them.

Soldiers also attacked Susiya school, east of Yatta in Hebron, and forced teachers and students to leave it, according to the Popular Committee Coordinator in Yatta, Rateb al-Jabour.

He told WAFA that Israeli soldiers, accompanied by officials from civil administration, stormed the school and beat several students, then forced the teachers, students and workers who were carrying out renovation work to leave.

T.R./F.J.