RAMALLAH, Thursday, March 07, 2019 (WAFA) – Israeli bulldozers early today demolished the house of a Palestinian accused of killing two Israeli soldiers in December during a raid into Kobar village, north of Ramallah.

Large number of Israeli troops raided Kobar, the hometown of Assem Barghouti, who is held by Israel on suspicion of killing two Israeli soldiers near Ramallah on December 13, and demolished his family house.

Clashes erupted between Palestinian youths and Israeli soldiers on the road leading to the village, during which soldiers fired stun grenades, tear gas canisters and rubber-coated steel bullets. No injuries were reported though.

The army also seized a car that belongs to his father, Omar Barghouti, 68, who is held in administrative detention in Israel and handed orders for the demolition of Omar’s house and the house of another son, Saleh, who was killed by the army in an ambush near Ramallah on December 12 for allegedly opening fire and injuring Israeli settlers north of Ramallah days earlier. The families were given three days to evacuate their homes.

Assem Barghouti, who apparently carried out the attack in revenge for the killing of his brother, Saleh, was arrested by Israeli forces on January 8 following a month-long manhunt.

Israel resorts to demolish the family homes of Palestinians involved in attacks against Israelis as  collective punishment policy. It does not apply this policy against Israeli terrorists involved in fatal attacks against Palestinians.

K.F./M.K.