Settlers assault 60-year-old Palestinian judge

Israeli settlers on Thursday assaulted a 60-year-old Palestinian judge as he worked on his land near Ramallah, sparking violent clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces.Judge Ahmad al-Zir sustained multiple injuries, including head wounds, and was left unconscious in the attack, a Ma'an reporter said.He was taken to the Ramallah Governmental Hospital.Residents of Silwad headed to the al-Asour area, where the attack happened, and confronted settlers, setting fire to caravans in a nearby outpost.Israeli forces arrived and fired tear gas and plastic-coated bullets at the Palestinians. A 16-year-old Palestinian was shot in the chest and the arm with plastic-coated bullets, medics said.The teenager was also taken to the Ramallah Governmental Hospital and is in a stable condition.An Israeli military spokeswoman said forces fired riot dispersal means in response to clashes between Palestinians and Israeli civilians in the area of Silwad."The clash included rock throwing. Palestinians set fire to land that belonged to the Israeli civilians as well as to a caravan," she told Ma'an.Several Palestinian groups announced they would hold Friday prayers at the outpost, which is built on lands belonging to Palestinians in Silwad and Deir Jarir.