Several people were suffocated by tear gas inhalation on Monday in confrontations with the Israeli army and settlers in the village of Beit Furik to the east of Nablus, according to local sources.Mayor of Beit Furik, Aref Hanani, said a number of local residents went out to repel an attack on the village by Israeli settlers from Itamar and Gideon when soldiers arrived at the scene and fired tear gas at the residents to keep them away from the settlers.Several people had to be treated for tear gas inhalation, he said.