Israeli settlers target Palestinians across West Bank during annual olive harvest
Palestinians have been beaten and olive trees and cars set alight by militant Israeli settlers in attacks across the occupied West Bank.
Israeli settlers have attacked Palestinians in multiple villages across the occupied West Bank and set trees and cars on fire, according to local officials and emergency responders with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society said six people were injured in two attacks it responded to on Friday in the town of Abu Falah outside Ramallah.
A 63-year-old woman and a 40-year-old man were taken to a hospital after being beaten by settlers, the Red Crescent said.
Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.
Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Israel has imposed new rules on the olive harvest, prohibiting Palestinians from working in what’s known as Area C, which is under Israeli security control and encompasses the majority of the territory’s agricultural land.
At least four Palestinians have been killed and more than 100 injured since the harvest season began earlier in October, according to Palestinian officials.
They say thousands of trees have been damaged, costing farmers hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Israel’s police and army did not immediately respond to questions about the attacks.
Israeli settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank has surged, with at least 170 attacks since September 27, around the start of the annual olive harvest, according to Yesh Din, an Israeli settlements monitoring group.
The settlers have been emboldened by the right-wing government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has overseen a rapid expansion of settlements and smaller outposts across the West Bank.
Netanyahu has criticised the violence but has taken few steps to crack down on incidents that have drawn international condemnation and sanction plans by longtime Israeli allies, including Britain.
The West Bank is home to some 500,000 settlers and at least three million Palestinians.
UN bodies and most countries deem the settlements illegal under international law regarding military occupations.
Israel rejects this, viewing the territory as disputed rather than occupied.
with Reuters
