Arab Informant Hacked to Death

JERUSALEM — Hundreds of people gathered at a village square in the West Bank to watch Palestinian militants hack to death an Arab man who admitted being an informer for Israel, Arab reporters said Friday.

The body of the victim, Mohammed Khatatbeh, was left in the central square in the village of Beit Furik, and his family was not allowed to bury him in the town, the reporters said.

Well over 150 Palestinians have been killed by their brethren since the uprising against Israeli rule of the West Bank and Gaza Strip began in December, 1987. Like Khatatbeh, most were accused of cooperating with Israeli authorities.

According to the Arab reporters, Khatatbeh was kidnaped Tuesday from his Beit Furik home by six Palestinians. The following day, they took him to the village mosque where he confessed over a loudspeaker that he had informed on fellow Palestinians since 1968 and once led three Palestine Liberation Organization guerrillas into an army ambush. Israeli officials say Palestinian activists often use torture and violent interrogations to force such confessions from suspected collaborators.

The militants then asked what should be done with Khatatbeh, and hundreds of villagers poured into the streets and chanted, “Kill him! Kill him!”

Khatatbeh was hacked to death with axes and knives late Thursday as about 250 villagers looked on, the reporters said.

The army command confirmed that a body was found in Beit Furik and said the case is being investigated.

In addition to the alleged collaborators, about 625 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers or civilians in the uprising, and 43 Israelis have died.