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Away from Gaza, tensions simmer in the West Bank

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Violence returned to the West Bank this weekend, with masked protesters throwing Molotov cocktails and rocks at IDF checkpoints outside major cities. Riots of a few thousand people took place outside Hebron, Ramallah and other cities. Many were holding Hamas flags and banners.

There were Palestinian casualties as the IDF tried to disperse the riots. On Sunday, during a violent protest, 11-year-old Khalil al-Anati was killed. The IDF has announced an investigation into the incident .

A 15-year-old Palestinian boy with a gun was arrested near the settlement of Beit Ell, and a number of Israeli drivers were hurt by stones thrown at their cars last night.

This morning, IDF forces attempted to arrest Zakaria al-Aqra near Nablus. He resisted arrest and a gunfight took place in which he was killed. Mr al-Aqra was suspected of shooting attacks against Israelis, and weapons were recovered from the building he was held up in.

Haaretz reports that ten Jewish suspects will be charged with violence against Arab residents of Jerusalem in late July. The suspects were apparently involved in the beating of two Palestinian youths.

The tensions in the West Bank remain a concern while Israel’s attention remains on Gaza and the south. However, the violence is nowhere near the level of the second Intifada, and the protests are small compared to those of the first Intifada. Israeli sources remain concerned but don’t believe that an Intifada is likely or imminent, especially because the Palestinian Authority is keeping a lid on serious violence.