In Tense West Bank City, Palestinians Try to Fill a Void

Palestinian activists are trying to fill the void following Israel's expulsion of an international observer force from a volatile West Bank city by launching their own patrols to document alleged Israeli settler violence.

The activists in Hebron don blue vests and are armed with video cameras.

They say they'll replace the mission called Temporary International Presence in Hebron in filming and documenting "violations" committed by the Israeli military and settlers in the city.

The group, which began its work this week, has enlisted 18 volunteers and plans to operate permanently in the absence of international observers.

Hebron is a frequent flashpoint between settlers and Palestinians. Over 200,000 Palestinians live in the city, along with several hundred ultranationalist Israeli settlers who live in heavily fortified enclaves protected by the military.