Intro: A Palestinian American returned home, hoping a giant US flag would deter settlers amid a tense West Bank standoff.
QUSRA
Palestinian American Loui Ridi raised a giant American flag above his home in Qusra, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, hoping the display would deter militant Jewish settlers who have surrounded three Palestinian homes in the village for more than a week.
Ridi returned to Qusra from the United States, fearing that he could lose his property amid the ongoing standoff. The encirclement of the homes has drawn condemnation from Washington and heightened tensions in the village.
On Tuesday morning, Ridi was walking among his cherry and fig trees when a settler approached from a nearby hill. The confrontation was filmed by Reuters, the only media outlet present at the scene.
The settler, speaking in Hebrew, questioned Ridi’s presence and appeared to carry a Torah while recording him on a mobile phone. Ridi responded by filming the encounter and calling the man a terrorist settler.
An Israeli military vehicle passed through the area several times before soldiers approached the settler and told him the location was a closed military area.
The settler told the soldiers he would leave if the Palestinians left, saying several people were there to guard their territory. He eventually moved away before being joined by two other settlers, who later disappeared up the hill.
An Israeli soldier then instructed Ridi to stay inside his house and avoid speaking to the settlers, saying he would handle the situation. Ridi objected, telling the soldiers that the settler was illegally on his land and should be arrested immediately.
Ridi: You are a terrorist settler, you know that?
One Box: The confrontation unfolded after Ridi returned from the United States, fearing settlers could take his property. Israeli soldiers told the settler the area was closed, while later instructing Ridi to remain inside his home. Ridi said the settler was illegally on his land and should be arrested.