At least 15 Palestinian youths were injured today during severe riots and disturbances of the peace in the area of Hebron and the Durra township, where the funerals took place, yesterday, of the three fatal casualties of the checkpoint incident.
From early this morning, Palestinian youths started pelting IDF and Border Patrol forces with various objects, also slinging Molotov cocktails. By noon, 15 Molotov cocktails has been lobbed at forces in the Hebron area.
IDF soldiers fired rubber bullets in response, injuring 15 Palestinian youths. Disturbances were also reported near Beit-El, but, so far, they are not out of control, and in most cases, Israeli and Palestinian officers co-operated in restoring order to areas of rioting.
Tension increased this afternoon, when, in Durra, thousands took part in the funeral of the three men killed in the incident. Prominent among those attending were Hamas movement activists, who waved their movement flags and called upon Palestinians to join the Iz a-Din al-Qassem squads, military arm of the Hamas.
The Fatah movement in Hebron this afternoon published a leaflet announced that tomorrow, clashes will take place between IDF forces and the Palestinians.
This is the first time the Fatah is calling for violent action against the IDF, since the events of September, eighteen months ago, after the Hasmonean tunnel was opened.
Palestinian Authority chair Yassir Arafat today published a communique denouncing the "great crime" perpetrated by IDF soldiers.
Political and security elements have been trying, since last night, to restore calm and prevent any outburst getting out of control. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed to Yassir Arafat Israel's regret at the incident, in which the Palestinian workers were killed.
Knesset chairman Dan Tichon this morning inaugurated the plenary session with an expression of regret over the incident. IDF commanders in the area met with their Palestinian counterparts in an effort to restore calm. The IDF promised that, once its investigation of the circumstances of the incident is completed, the findings will be made known to the Palestinians.
OC Central Command Maj.-Gen. Uzi Dayan said indications so far were that the youths killed last night did not intend any terror attack. He noted, however, that the checkpoint soldiers did not have an "itchy finger" on the trigger, and the incident took place due to their commanding officer being run over.
Published by Israel's Business Arena March 11, 1998