Israeli police have made their first arrest over an attack on a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank, detaining a 19-year-old settler amid growing US pressure on Israel to curb settler violence.
The man is suspected of taking part in an attack last weekend in the village of Qusra, police said on Thursday. The investigation is continuing as authorities seek further suspects.
Dozens of Israeli rioters barricaded themselves inside a Palestinian home in the village on Saturday and attacked residents, including by throwing stones at them.
According to the Israeli military, security forces were at the scene to confront the rioters and remove them from the house, but no arrests were made at the time.
Palestinian media gave a different account, reporting that Israeli soldiers had protected the settlers during the attacks. Several Palestinians were injured by pepper spray used by settlers, according to the reports.
Radical settlers have been surrounding several homes belonging to Palestinian residents in Qusra for more than three weeks.
Residents and activists say the Israeli military has so far failed to take effective action to end the situation.
The United States has strongly condemned settler violence in recent weeks and has pressed the Israeli government to take more decisive action against it.