Map Position 3 Attack on Abdul Latif and family

On November 3, 2001, at 4:00 AM, 25 armed settlers invaded Upper Yanoun, gathering at the Yanoun Spring at the bottom of the hill on which the houses are built. Three of the settlers, carrying their U.S. Army issue M16 rifles, came to the Abdul Latif home in the upper row of houses. Abdul Latif and some family members came out of the house to see what was going on. They hit him with the M16 rifle butts knocking him down and opening a gash above his left eye. He was bleeding profusely. They also knocked his elderly father down, and assaulted his wife with a rock and a blow with the M16. They threatened him and his family, then left. There were no shots fired.

The family telephoned for an ambulance for Abdul Latif to go to the Rafidia Hospital in Nablus, then still only 15 km away, since the road had not yet been closed by settlers and the Army.

On the next day, Abdul Latif was released from the hospital, and he went to the Israeli police at the big Ariel settlement. The police did nothing. Not even investigate or take statements. Abdul Latif has a nasty scar above his left eye from it.

There was another invasion of the Abdul Latif home in 2002. Seven armed settlers came to the house and ordered (in Hebrew, naturally) everyone out. Abdul Latif understands some Hebrew. The settlers locked the door and ordered them away. But, one of the settlers attacked Abdul Latif’s wife so he picked up a stick and started beating the settler. Other families came to help, at which the settlers started firing M16 rounds in the air. More settlers came to help the seven, and they all joined in throwing rocks down on the house from the cliff in back. Some families had called the Army, and the Israeli police. The Army came, but did nothing, except to send the settlers away.