Israeli police shoot at civilian during Golan Heights wind farm protest

Protesters 'threw stones and Molotov cocktails' at officers, police say

Druze civilians protest against planned wind turbines in Kfar Vradim in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Reuters

At least 50 Druze protesters and 12 Israeli police officers were injured during altercations in the occupied Golan Heights, Syrian state news agency Sana said on Wednesday.

Police said one officer had “felt he had to shoot” at a civilian, believing the person to be an “immediate danger to his life”.

Golan residents were protesting against the installation of a wind farm in their village.

“This land is ours and is entrusted to us. It is more precious than our souls and we will not squander it, no matter how the terrorism by the occupying forces escalates,” protesters told Sana.

Israeli security forces called in reinforcements to an agricultural area in Al Hafir.

Protesters “threw stones and Molotov cocktails” at officers, the police said.

“I view the events occurring now in the Golan Heights with great severity and concern,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

“I give full backing to the Israeli police and the security forces in their efforts to maintain law and order,” Mr Netanyahu said in a video statement.

“We will not accept any provocations to the police or the security forces in these places or anywhere else.

“We are a nation of laws.”

Also on Wednesday, Mr Netanyahu met members of the Druze community, including spiritual leader Sheikh Moafaq Tarif and Israeli Security Agency director Ronen Bar.

Israel first occupied the Golan Heights in 1967. It annexed the territory, which covers 1,200 square kilometres, in 1981 in a move not recognised by most of the international community.