MOSCOW, January 2 (Sputnik) – Jewish settlers threw stones at the staff of the US consulate in Jerusalem, who came to the area near the Jewish settlement of Adei Ad to look into allegations that settlers destroyed hundreds of olive trees, planted by Palestinians, the Associated Press reports, citing Israeli police.
"Rocks were thrown at them by residents of Adei Ad. We are investigating. Arrests have yet to be made," a police spokeswoman said, as quoted by Reuters.
The consular employees came to the settlement in two vehicles, according to Micky Rosenfeld, a police spokesman. American security personnel told them to get back into the cars when they were attacked. They then left the area.
No one was injured in the incident, according to the Times of Israel.
"According to initial findings, settlers threw stones at the US consular vehicles near the Adei Ad illegal settlement, close to the Palestinian village of Turmus Ayya," a spokeswoman stated, as quoted by AFP.
An official from the village of Turmus Ayya asked the US diplomats to come to the area, according to Ynet News. Conflicting reports emerge on whether US consulate employees coordinated the visit with Israeli officials.
Approximately forty families live in the Adei Ad settlement, a local told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The US consulate in Jerusalem, as well as the US embassy in Tel Aviv have not commented on the attack.
