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Illustrative scene. Published by Maan
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NEGEV (Ma'an) -- Israeli police on Sunday detained two teenagers in the Negev region for throwing rocks at Israeli vehicles travelling on Route 31, an Israeli police spokesperson said.

The spokesperson identified the detainees as two 14-year-old boys from the Al-Atrash Bedouin community in the area.

The two teenagers are accused of causing property damage. No injuries were reported as a result of the alleged stone throwing.
The spokesperson said an investigation into the incident was ongoing.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in September declared a “war on stone throwing,” establishing a minimum prison sentence for adults who throw stones as well as allowing Israeli forces to use sniper fire against stone throwers in circumstances that pose mortal danger.

Netanyahu said at the time said that there would be "significant fines" for minors who commit such offences, as well as for their parents.

The Knesset had already passed a law in July making penalties for stone-throwing more severe. The new law allowed for stone-throwers to receive a 20-year prison sentence where intent to harm could be proven, and 10 years where it could not.

At the time the bill was passed, Palestinian MK Jamal Zahalka said: "Who will the judge send to prison? He who demolished the home, seized the land, killed the brother, or the boy who threw a stone?"

Israeli authorities have long been criticized for implementing strict measures against Palestinian stone-throwers that are rarely brought against Jewish Israelis who carry out similar acts.

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