Israel summons int’l watchdog chief over settler attack

JERUSALEM (AA) – Israel’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday summoned the commander of an international observer force in the West Bank city of Hebron over attacks on settlers in which foreign observers were involved.

In a statement, the ministry said the commander of the Temporary International Presence in Hebron (TIPH) was summoned to provide a clarification to Israeli authorities about incidents in which observers were captured on camera attacking settlers.

In one incident, footage aired by Israeli Channel Two on Monday showed TIPH observers slashing the tyres of a Jewish settler in Hebron.

According to the ministry, the TIPH observer had fled the country after police tried to question him over the incident.

Another observer was caught on tape slapping a 10-year-old settler in the same city.

TIPH has been in Hebron as a civil observer force since 1997. It includes international observers from six countries: Denmark, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey.

Israel and the Ramallah-based Palestinian Authority renew the TIPH’s mandate every six months.