West Bank settlers clash with Palestinian neighbours

Israeli settlers and Palestinians in the northern West Bank hurled stones at each other on Saturday after the settlers marched into the village of Burin, witnesses said. One villager was slightly hurt in the hand by a stone and another passed out from tear gas fired by troops trying to separate the two sides, an AFP journalist said. The military said that soldiers also fired rubber-coated bullets, lightly wounding a Palestinian who was given first aid on the spot. An army spokeswoman told AFP that about 50 settlers and 20 Palestinians were involved in the confrontation. The Israelis came from the settlement of Yitzhar, home of a settler stabbed to death by a Palestinian on April 30, further inflaming already tense relations. The killer came from the town of Tulkarem, about 25 kilometres (15 miles) from Burin. Palestinians said that Yitzhar residents on Saturday also clashed with Palestinians in another neighbouring village, Urif, but no injuries were reported. Following last month's killing more than 100 settlers stoned a mosque in Urif, breaking its windows and sparking clashes with residents that left several people injured on both sides.