Settler teens attack Border police in Hebron

      A group of Israeli teens in Hebron on Saturday attacked Border Patrol officers outside the city's police station. The police were setting out for a patrol of the city when they were set upon by the youths, who had come to the station after one of their friends was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer. One of the teens was arrested and has been taken for questioning. Security forces sent reinforcements to Hebron in preparation for the arrival this weekend of some 20,000 Jews for an annual pilgrimage. The pilgrimage commemorates the death of the Matriarch Sarah, whom the Bible says was buried in Hebron. On Saturday, Deputy Defense Minister Matan Vilnai called on settlers to rein in the violence between members of their community and Israeli police and security forces in the West Bank. "A law is a law. These instances will not be tolerated, not against IDF soldiers, the police, or Palestinian civilians," Vilnai said, during a meeting with Jezreel Valley residents. Vilnai added "it's true that we are speaking about a handful of lawbreakers which are blemishing the entire settler community. But the leadership also has responsibilities. This is a dangerous situation facing security forces." On Thursday, angry settlers attacked Israel Defense Forces soldiers, vandalized Palestinian property and scrawled "Mohammed is a pig" on a local mosque after the High Court of Justice ruled earlier this week that the house must be cleared of its Jewish residents until another court decides whether Jews or Palestinians are the legal owners. (22,33)