A violent exchange took place between Arabs and Jews in Hevron yesterday, as mourners gathered to bury slain IDF Sgt. Elazar Leibovitz. Arabs murdered Leibovitz at the Zief junction, near Hevron on Friday. As the funeral procession left the Cave of the Patriarchs (Me\'arat HaMachpela), on its way to the town\'s ancient Jewish cemetery, Arabs standing on the roofs and balconies of their homes nearby began heaving cement blocks, boulders, planks and iron rods down onto the mourners.
In response the soldiers and armed civilians in the procession began firing warning shots in the air, and when the bombardment would not yield, they began shooting in the direction of the Arabs hurling the objects. Arab sources say that a 14-year-old girl standing on the balcony of her home was killed by gunfire, whilst her brother was wounded. Hevron resident Uri Karzen, who took part in the funeral procession told Arutz Sheva today, that it is \"absolutely possible\" that the girl who died took part in the attack on the mourners. Karzen also stressed that the soldiers and civilians who began firing were doing so in self-defense since the Arabs were lobbing their heavy objects from the rooftops of three story buildings above the procession.
The initial melee lasted for ten to fifteen minutes. Additional exchanges took place at various points throughout the procession. Between 10-15 security force officials were injured throughout the day. Police also arrested four Israelis who took part in the violence. Last night The Jerusalem Magistrate\'s Court ordered their release pending an investigation into the incident. Israeli officials have called on the PA to assist in the investigation.
Yesterday also marked the anniversary of the 1929 massacre in which Arabs murdered 67 members of the Jewish community of Hevron. Leibovitz was laid to rest alongside those victims.
In response the soldiers and armed civilians in the procession began firing warning shots in the air, and when the bombardment would not yield, they began shooting in the direction of the Arabs hurling the objects. Arab sources say that a 14-year-old girl standing on the balcony of her home was killed by gunfire, whilst her brother was wounded. Hevron resident Uri Karzen, who took part in the funeral procession told Arutz Sheva today, that it is \"absolutely possible\" that the girl who died took part in the attack on the mourners. Karzen also stressed that the soldiers and civilians who began firing were doing so in self-defense since the Arabs were lobbing their heavy objects from the rooftops of three story buildings above the procession.
The initial melee lasted for ten to fifteen minutes. Additional exchanges took place at various points throughout the procession. Between 10-15 security force officials were injured throughout the day. Police also arrested four Israelis who took part in the violence. Last night The Jerusalem Magistrate\'s Court ordered their release pending an investigation into the incident. Israeli officials have called on the PA to assist in the investigation.
Yesterday also marked the anniversary of the 1929 massacre in which Arabs murdered 67 members of the Jewish community of Hevron. Leibovitz was laid to rest alongside those victims.