Conflicts in Shiloh region – Arabs placed knife at hiker’s throat

Friday, September 16 11:56 A group of hikers that arrived in the morning in the area close to the communities of Aish Kodesh and Achiya in the Shiloh Bloc was attacked by Arabs from the nearby village of Kutzra. Several Arabs succeeded in grabbing one of the hikers and an Arab pulled out a knife and placed it at his throat. One of the hikers fired several shots in the air, which resulted in the release of the hiker. The group broke contact with the Arabs and started to return to Aish Kodesh.
After a few minutes tens of Arabs from the village of Kutzra approached Aish Kodesh and began to set fires in the area. The Arabs neared a vineyard belonging to an Aish Kodesh resident and attempted to damage it.
Residents of Aish Kodesh went out towards the Arabs and between the sides a rock-throwing skirmish developed. According to the Aish Kodesh residents IDF soldiers who arrived at the scene were powerless and did not succeed in controlling the Arab mob. As if that wasn’t enough, Yassam (special force) police arrived and arrested four Jews, even as tens of Arabs continued to pelt IDF soldiers with rocks. Three of the arrested were released on site, however one detainee, an Aish Kodesh resident, was taken to the Binyamin police station. A Honenu attorney is attempting to secure his release.
Currently conflicts continue between soldiers and border police and the hundreds of rioting Arabs from the village of Kutzra.