Israeli Settler Fined $3,333 for Protest

An Israeli court fined a Jewish settler Wednesday for rioting at one of dozens of protests against Israeli-PLO peace moves the day before, a court official said.

A settler leader said it appeared to be the first indictment since settlers began a protest campaign last month that included symbolic occupations of West Bank hilltops and tying up traffic throughout Israel.

The court said that Moshe Feiglin, who helped organize the protests in which traffic was blocked and right-wing Israelis scuffled with police, must pay a fine of 10,000 shekels ($3,333) or go to prison for 10 months.

The official said Feiglin also received a six-month suspended sentence.

Feiglin is one of the leaders of the settler group Zu Artzenu, which means “This Is Our Land.” The group organized the tie-ups Tuesday at intersections all over Israel.

Police spokesman Eric Bar-Chen said Feiglin had refused to move out of the street after being ordered by police to do so. Bar-Chen said that, of 150 demonstrators arrested Tuesday, 25 remained in detention.