A clash between settlers and Palestinians near the Bat Ayin settlement resulted in around 19 casualties-18 Palestinians injured and one Israeli lightly injured. It is unclear whether the clash was in response to settler or Palestinian violence. Palestinian news reports have said settlers entered the village of Safa and with soldiers idly watching, opened fire on random homes. Israeli news has said the settlers were peacefully marching through Safa and encountered rock throwing youth.Bat Ayin is the same settlement where just last week a 13-yr old boy was killed in an ax attack. Tensions have remained high since the attack last week; the Israeli military has been on constant guard for any further violence. The IDF has taken responsibility for the injuries, having used tear gas, rubber bullets and live rounds to disperse the growing crowd. Numbers of injured varied widely from 8 to 17 to 18 to 38.
The skirmish occurred just before the closing of all West Bank-Israel entry points for the duration of Passover. This is in response to past suicide bomb attacks in Israel during the Jewish holiday. Only food aid and the wounded will be allowed to pass through the blockade. Israel is expected to be strict in imposition of the blockade, which will last through Saturday.
From Within Palestine
Hamas: Israeli policies in Jerusalem could provoke “explostion” (Ma'an News)
Armed settlers attack, injure 38 Palestinians;
Teenager in critical condition (Ma'an News)
Israel allows cash into Gaza; PA salaries available Wednesday (Ma'an News)
17 hurt as Palestinians, Bat Ayin settlers clash in West Bank (Haaretz)
Popular Palestinian PM "not running for anything" (Reuters)
Israeli Police Kill Palestinian Motorist in East Jerusalem (NY Times)
Settlers attack West Bank village (Al Jazeera)
At least 16 Palestinians hurt in clash with Bat Ayin settlers (Jerusalem Post)
Israeli army detains 17 Palestinians in West Bank (Xinhua)
Abbas Envoys Hold Palestinian Unity Talks With Hamas in Gaza (Bloomberg)
News in Israel
Report: IDF brigade won't recognize Conservative soldiers as religious (Haaretz)
Israeli FM says peace talks at dead end (Xinhua)
Relatives of Bedouin terrorist released (Jerusalem Post)
Lieberman: Peace talks with Palestinians are at a 'dead end' (Jerusalem Post)
'Civilian deaths were rare exceptions' (Jerusalem Post)
The Holy Land And Its Neighbors
Arab, Iranian MPs walk out of meeting during Israeli's speech (Ma'an News)
Egypt quizzes group on Hamas links (Al Jazeera)
Syria says willing to renew peace talks with Israel (Haaretz)
Biden warns Israel against Iran strike (Jerusalem Post)
Egypt suggests delaying Palestinian unity govt (AFP)
Israel sees "dead end", Obama calls for peace (Reutersw)
Arabs, Muslims Praise Obama's Remarks (VOA)
Miscellaneous
History lessons stymied in Lebanon (BBC News)
US munitions delivered to Israel (Amnesty International)
Artifact pulls Muslims and Jews apart (Al Jazeera)
Commentary
Larry Derfner: Lieberman more dangerous than Ahmadinejad (Jerusalem Post)
Roger Cohen: Israel Cries Wolf (NY Times)
Adam Horowitz: Passover vigil for peace (Philadelphia Daily)
Civil society shows its moral strength (Electronic Intifada)
'Jerusalem Post' admits it was duped by hoaxer on report of anti-Semitism in Norway (Mondoweiss)
Tony Bayfield: Everyone deserves to walk to freedom (Guardian)
Amir Oren: Obama's seder (Haaretz)
Aluf Benn: Don't fight in the mud, Livni (Haaretz)
