Israel seals Jenin village for second day

Israeli forces set up a temporary checkpoint sealing a Jenin-district village for several hours on Monday morning, the second day the village has been closed. Forces blocked the eastern entrance to Yabad village around 5.30 a.m., preventing some residents from reaching their homes and searching vehicles, locals said. Israel permanently closed the western entrance to the village during the second intifada, erecting a large steel gate to periodically allow residents passage. Brief clashes broke out between villagers and the soldiers, who fired tear gas towards them, villagers told Ma'an. No injuries were recorded. An Israeli army spokeswoman said the checkpoint was set up for two hours, "according to security assessments in the area," but declined to elaborate. She denied that soldiers used tear gas in the village. Soldiers had set up a temporary checkpoint at the same location on Sunday morning, after locals said clashes erupted with forces who deployed to the village Saturday evening. Israeli military vehicles have raided the village for four days, residents told Ma'an.