JERUSALEM: Six Israelis were detained for assaulting soldiers near a town in the occupied West Bank where clashes with Palestinians erupted earlier this week, the military said on Saturday.
Soldiers went to disperse a gathering of Israelis near the central West Bank town of Kafr Malik overnight Friday to Saturday, the military said in a statement.
“Upon the arrival of the security forces, dozens of Israeli civilians hurled stones toward them and physically and verbally assaulted the soldiers, including the Battalion Commander,” it said.
“In addition, the civilians vandalized and damaged security forces’ vehicles, and attempted to ram the security forces,” it added.
“The security forces dispersed the gathering, and six Israeli civilians were apprehended and transferred to the Israel Police for further processing.”
Contacted by AFP, the Israeli military declined to say whether those arrested were residents of Israeli settlements in the territory, which has been occupied by Israel since 1967.
The military referred the query to the Israeli police, which was not available to comment.
In a separate incident on Wednesday, the Palestinian health ministry said three men died in Kafr Malik in an attack by settlers.
AFP journalists saw several hundred people gather for the three men’s funerals on Thursday.
The Palestinian foreign ministry alleged “official complicity” by Israel in Wednesday’s attack, in a message on X.
“Israeli occupation forces prevented ambulance crews from reaching the wounded and obstructed civil defense teams from entering the village for several hours, allowing fires ignited by the settlers to spread and destroy dozens of homes,” it said.
The Israeli military did not respond to a request by AFP to comment on those claims.
A military spokesman told AFP its forces intervened on Wednesday after “dozens of Israeli civilians set fire to property in Kafr Malik” and a “confrontation” involving “mutual rock-hurling” broke out between Israelis and Palestinians.
Referring to action by the Palestinians, the spokesman said: “Several terrorists fired from within Kafr Malik and hurled rocks at the forces, who opened fire toward the source of fire and the rock-hurlers.”
Five Israelis were arrested, the military added.
Six Israelis detained for attacking soldiers in West Bank: military
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Six Israelis detained for attacking soldiers in West Bank: military
Jordan-India partnership expanding across trade, technology and energy, says envoy
- Indian Ambassador to Jordan Manish Chauhan described ties between the two countries as longstanding and built on mutual trust
AMMAN: Jordan and India are deepening cooperation across a wide range of sectors including trade, digital technology, renewable energy and infrastructure, Indian Ambassador to Jordan Manish Chauhan said Saturday.
Speaking to Jordan News Agency, Chauhan described ties between the two countries as longstanding and built on mutual trust, adding that relations span political, economic, defense, security, cultural and educational cooperation.
He said regular political dialogue continues between the two countries, and highlighted the fourth round of foreign ministry consultations held in Amman in April 2025 and a fifth round due to take place in New Delhi.
Chauhan also highlighted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Jordan as a major milestone, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations.
During the visit, Modi praised the leadership of King Abdullah II and said Jordan and India share a “strong” contemporary partnership rooted in deep cultural ties.
The Indian premier also commended Jordan’s growing role as a regional bridge connecting markets and fostering business and economic growth.
The ambassador said discussions between King Abdullah II and Modi highlighted a shared commitment to expanding cooperation, particularly in renewable energy, water management, digital transformation, cultural exchange and heritage.
India is Jordan’s third-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade valued at about $2.8 billion, JNA reported.
Chauhan said both sides are now working toward doubling trade to $5 billion over the next five years.
He added that opportunities for business collaboration are emerging in several sectors, including digital public infrastructure, fintech, health-tech and agri-tech, as well as sectors such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, green mobility, agriculture, food processing and heritage tourism.
On regional issues, Chauhan highlighted India’s longstanding support for Palestine, adding that New Delhi was among the first non-Arab states to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization in the 1970s and the Palestinian state in 1988.
The ambassador said that the Indian Embassy in Amman remained committed to advancing the growing partnership in close coordination with Jordanian counterparts.
