Two U.S. Christians 'hit' by Jewish settlers

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HEBRON, West Bank (Agence France-Presse) -- Two U.S. Christian pacifists said they were severely beaten yesterday by Jewish settlers in this southern West Bank town.

Chris Brown and Kim Lamberty, from Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT), said they were assaulted by settlers as they were walking Palestinian children to their school in Tuwani, a village just south of Hebron.

"Five masked men with metal chains approached me and Kim when we were walking the children to school," said Mr. Brown, speaking from his hospital bed in southern Israel where both he and Miss Lamberty were taken for treatment.

"The children managed to escape. We were hit with chains, rocks and sticks," he said. "The settlers also kicked us."

He said border policemen and soldiers had arrived at the scene "20 or 30" minutes after the settlers fled.

Israeli police could not be immediately reached for comment.

CPT said Mr. Brown suffered a punctured lung and Miss Lamberty had a broken arm and knee. The settlers also stole Miss Lamberty's passport, money and cell phone, the group said.

Miss Lamberty and Mr. Brown accompanied the children because they "have experienced harassment from settlers in the past," the group said.

CPT describes itself as an ecumenical initiative to support the reduction of violence worldwide. The group first set up operations in Hebron in 1995, where nine members work.

About 1,200 soldiers guard about 600 Jewish settlers living in an enclave in the heart of Hebron, which is home to 120,000 Palestinians.