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Israel: Former Knesset speaker attacked by soldiers in West Bank

Avraham Burg had been leading a delegation of left-wing activists to the town of Huwwara following deadly settler attacks at the weekend
Former president of the Knesset, Avraham Burg, was leading a group of Israeli activists to the West Bank town in the wake of attacks by settler groups over the weekend (AFP/file photo)

A former speaker of the Knesset was attacked by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank on Friday as he attempted to lead a delegation in solidarity with the Palestinian village of Huwwara.

Avraham Burg - also known as "Avrom" - was captured on video being pushed by Israeli soldiers, while grenades can be heard exploding in the background:

Burg, a left-winger and advocate of a one-state solution, was leading a group of Israeli activists to the West Bank town in the wake of attacks by settler groups over the weekend.

Footage showed Israeli security forces blocking the path of the campaigners who flew Palestinian flags and held signs reading "Palestinian Lives Matter".

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At least one Palestinian was killed and nearly 400 were wounded in Sunday's attacks on Huwwara and other West Bank towns and villages in the Nablus area.

Hundreds of Israeli settlers, flanked by soldiers, attacked Palestinian towns and villages near Nablus following a shooting that killed two Israelis in Huwwara town earlier in the day.  

Eight people were arrested on the night of the riots but were later released, three of them subject to house arrest, according to Israeli officials.

On Wednesday, Israeli police said they had arrested a further six people, including two minors, for suspected involvement in “rioting, setting fire to vehicles and buildings, assaulting Palestinians, causing damage to property in Huwwara”.

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