Israeli settlers on Saturday overnight set up unauthorized outposts and rampaging through Palestinian towns and villages, sparking clashes and violence.
According to multiple Hebrew media reports, at least seven illegal outposts were established overnight across the West Bank this week, with the knowledge of the political echelon. One of them is Evyatar, an oft-evacuated hilltop outpost north of Eli, where dozens of Israeli settlers have taken up residence and held events. Another one is near the Ma’ale Levona settlement, where photos showed five buildings made of prefabricated metal walls erected at the site.
On Friday morning, the far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir visited Evyatar and urged Jewish Israeli settlers to “run for the hilltops” and establish more outposts. He also called for a military campaign to “blow up buildings, assassinate terrorists” and “settle the land of Israel”.
The new illegal outposts have been met with resistance from Palestinians who say they are built on their lands. On Friday, clashes reportedly erupted between Israeli occupation forces and Palestinians from the neighboring village of Beita near Evyatar. The Palestinian health ministry said one Palestinian was killed and another 12 were wounded during the clashes.
In addition to setting up outposts, groups of settlers have also been attacking Palestinian communities in the West Bank after a shooting attack that left 4 Israeli settlers dead. On Wednesday afternoon, hundreds of Israeli settlers tore through the Palestinian town of Turmus Ayya near Ramallah, setting homes, cars, and fields on fire and terrorizing residents. One Palestinian was killed and four others were wounded by gunfire in unclear circumstances.
On Tuesday night, an unknown number of Israeli settler fanatics ripped through several Palestinian towns in the Nablus area, burning cars and fields and stoning homes. The attack were reminiscent of a similar settler pogrom earlier this year.
The Israeli settler violence has raised fears of further escalation in the West Bank, where tensions have been high in recent weeks over a Jerusalem shrine that is sacred to both Muslims.
The international community has condemned the Israeli settlements in the West Bank as illegal and an obstacle to peace.
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=43811
