West Bank settlers injure Israeli activists, AFP journalist

West Bank settlers injured at least five Israeli activists and an AFP journalist near Jannatah, close to Bethlehem, where the activists had travelled to support a Palestinian family.

The group of about 30 activists had gone to build a protective fence around the Faraj family home and clear road obstacles. The activists and accompanying journalists later found their cars vandalised, with smashed windows and punctured tyres.

When activists confronted the settlers, two cars carrying reinforcements arrived and the visitors were attacked. Settlers threw stones and used pepper spray, and an AFP journalist was hit in the chin with a stick.

Ziva Sharp, who travelled from Jerusalem, said her Jewish faith motivated her activism and that she wanted to reduce harm done to Palestinians. Many of the activists are linked to Bnei Avraham, a movement of religious Jews who say their faith compels them to oppose injustices against Palestinians.

The Faraj family has faced pressure from Jewish extremists. Mohammed Faraj was killed in clashes with settlers in March, and his brother Hassan told AFP that no one had been arrested over the killing.

Activists said the nearby outpost, known as Kochav Yehuda, has been dismantled 64 times by Israeli authorities and rebuilt each time, most recently on Monday. More than 500,000 Israelis live in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967 and which is home to around three million Palestinians.