Outrage in West Bank at surge in attacks by settlers on Palestinians
More than 100 incidents in 10 days Attackers protected by Israeli military
Outrage is growing in the occupied West Bank after more than 100 attacks in 10 days by Israeli settlers targeting Palestinian people and property.
The attacks coincide with the beginning of the olive season, and campaigning for an Israeli parliamentary election on Nov. 1 in which settlers will be a key voting bloc.
Munir Kadous of the Israeli organization Yesh Din: Volunteers for Human Right described the attacks by settlers as “horrific and terrify“They ing.” He said: “After limiting their attacks to homes and farms on the outskirts of Palestinian towns and villages, they now attack any target they want in the center of those towns without fear, under the protection of the Israeli army.”
Abdullah Odeh, 50, from Hawara in southern Nablus, where he owns a transport company and a tourist resort, told Arab News that settlers had attacked his property 22 times since the beginning of the year.
“I complained to the Palestinian and Israeli police and the Palestinian-Israeli military liaison, and
they did nothing,” he said.
Younis Arar, director of the International Relations Unit at the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, said the settlers would not have dared to attack in such a way without the protection of the Israeli army.
attack citizens and their property in broad daylight and shoot at people without hesitation or fear, enjoying the protection of the Israeli army, which does not interfere to prevent them from carrying out their attacks against Palestinians and their property,” said Arar.
About 700,000 settlers live in the West Bank in 130 settlements and outposts, all of which are illegal under international law because they are built on occupied land.