Arrests follow 'settler beating'

Midhat Abu Karsh, the victim of the alleged attack

Israeli police have arrested two Jewish settlers suspected of involvement in the beating of a Palestinian man.

In the incident, which was filmed by Israeli human rights activists and posted on the internet, a Palestinian was tied to a post.

The settlers had accused the Palestinian of burning fields.

Last month, two settlers were arrested after Palestinians filmed masked men beating a Palestinian shepherd and his wife. They were later released.

Israeli human rights workers have been handing out video cameras to Palestinians so that they can capture any alleged abuses on tape.

The alleged assault happened in fields near the Palestinian village of al-Samoa.

The film appears to show a settler, wearing a white shirt, kicking a man bound to a post.

An Israeli soldier then restrains the settler.

Midhat Abu Karsh, a 30-year-old Palestinian teacher who lives near the West Bank city of Hebron, said he was attacked by settlers who accused him of setting fire to fields near the settlement of Eshael.

Settler leaders have criticised the alleged beating.

Video of the incident has appeared on the video sharing site YouTube.

All settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law - though Israel disputes this.