PA: Settlers torch farmland near Nablus

Israeli settlers on Thursday torched farmland near Nablus in the northern West Bank, a PA official said. Ghassan Doughlas told Ma'an that residents of Yitzhar settlement set fire to large swathes of agricultural land in Madma village. Witnesses told Ma'an that villagers clashed with the settlers and that Israeli forces intervened and detained two Palestinians, Ahmad Nassar, 20, and Muhammad Nassar, 23. An Israeli army spokeswoman said soldiers and border police were called to the area but she said there were no detentions. Meanwhile, Palestinian firefighters controlled the fires. On Sunday, an Israeli human rights group released footage of settlers firing on a Nablus village, and called on Israel's military to investigate the assailants, as well as the army's role. The armed settlers were shown entering Asira al-Qibliya and throwing rocks at properties in the village, which borders Yitzhar settlement, before the arrival of Israeli forces. Nimir Fathi, 24, was shot in the neck, while Ahmad Jaber Jibrel, 30, was hit in the face with a rock.