<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Occupied Palestine | فلسطين]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[occupiedpalestine]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/author/hajarhajar/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Israeli forces continue to surround Beit&nbsp;Ummar]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p><img src='https://occupiedpalestine.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/123626_345x230.jpg' alt='' /><br />
April 3, 2011</p>
<p>HEBRON (Ma&#8217;an) &#8212; Israeli forces detained a teenager in Beit Ummar on  Sunday as the army&#8217;s siege on the West Bank town continues, local  officials said.</p>
<p>Popular committee spokesman Mohammad Ayad Awwad  said Israeli troops had surrounded Beit Ummar for 13 days, since the  army blocking all entrances to the town with barriers and cement blocks.</p>
<p>Soldiers detained Ahmad Ibrahim Ali Ikhiel, 16, and took him to an unknown location, Awwad added.</p>
<p>An Israeli army spokeswoman was not immediately aware of the detention but said she would look into it.</p>
<p>Israeli  forces have stepped up military activity in Beit Ummar since an Israeli  settler opened fire on a funeral procession in the town on March 21,  injuring two.</p>
<p>The Israeli news site Ynet said a mourner had  &#8220;probably&#8221; thrown rocks at the settler car, before the driver parked,  disembarked and fired on the gathered mourners. Muhammad Ali Abu  Safiyya, 59, was shot in the chest and critically injured</p>
<p>Within days of the shooting, Israel began constructing a fence enclosing the southern flank of the town.</p>
<p>An  Israeli army spokesman said &#8220;In response to incidents of rock throwing  at Israeli cars driving from the village of Beit Omer [sic], a number of  temporary blocks were placed at certain entrances to the village  (though not including the main entrance) in an attempt to stymie such  actions.&#8221;</p>
<p>Metal gates, he added, were being installed on the street leading from the town to the cemetery.</p>
<p>Since March, Israeli soldiers have detained dozens of Beit Ummar residents, many of them teenagers.</p>
<p>Awwad  said Israeli authorities had announced a new plan to build an illegal  settlement outpost and a center to teach the Torah on land privately  owned by Beit Ummar residents.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=375138">Source</a></p>
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