HEBRON, March 26, 2011 (WAFA) - Residents of At-Tuwani Saturday held a peaceful vigil to protest the recent stabbing of Mahmoud Awad, a resident of nearby Tuba village.

Soldiers responded to the vigil by declaring a closed military zone.

Villagers from At-Tuwani attempted to erect a small tent in honor of Awad on village land near the illegal outpost of Havat Ma'on, but Israeli soldiers prevented them from doing so by declaring the area a closed military zone.

Soldiers ordered Palestinians and internationals out of the area, and forced shepherds who were grazing sheep and goats to leave. Women and children of the village then occupied the area for several hours in defiance of the order to leave.

On March 19, a settler from Havat Ma'on attacked and stabbed Awad on the outskirts of At-Tuwani.  Awad was traveling by donkey to the city of Yatta for a medical appointment. A resident of the village saw the attack and ran towards the settler, who ran back into the outpost.

Awad was transported to Alia Hospital in Hebron, where he is recovering from stab wounds to his head, arm and chest.

Also on March 26, Israeli soldiers arrested 16 Israeli peace activists from the organization Taayush when the activists attempted to walk on the road which connects the village of Tuba with At-Tuwani. Due to settler violence, the road has been inaccessible to Palestinians and internationals since 2003.

M.A.