Settlers attacks on West Bank villages greenlit by Israeli ministers

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
5 Aug 2023 22:42
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An Israeli reserve colonel says the entity's security and military establishments are losing control in the occupied West Bank where settlers are continuously attacking Palestinians and their properties.

Israeli settlers with assault rifles in the occupied West Bank, Palestine on July 1, 2021 (AFP)

The Israeli occupation military and security establishments are losing control in the occupied West Bank in light of the settlers' terrorist attacks against villages in the occupied West Bank, Reserve Colonel Kobi Merom said on Saturday, as quoted by Israeli media.

A Palestinian youth was martyred on Friday evening in the village of Burqa, southeast of Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank. Israeli media outlets pointed out that 19-year-old Qusai Jamal Mu'tan was killed by a number of settlers under the protection of the IOF.

According to Palestinian WAFA, settlers stormed several areas in the western and northwestern parts of Burqa, set fire to two vehicles during the attack, and brought in sheep to a parcel of land nearby, indicating their intention to seize lands in the village.

The attack resulted in confrontations with Palestinian youths who rushed to protect their village.

Merom described the situation in the West Bank as very dangerous, saying, "What we have seen in recent weeks are dozens of terrorist operations against Palestinian villages without arrests."

He pointed out that these aggressions carried out by settlers are greenlit and covered by some Israeli ministers.

The colonel highlighted that "[Police] Minister Smotrich allows the establishment of illegal outposts," adding, "Amid the state of collapse we are spiraling down toward chaos, and I am not surprised by the armed incident that took place yesterday in Burqa."

"If the prime minister [Benjamin Netanyahu] does not stop this matter and" puts his foot down at the cabinet table, "we are heading toward complete chaos on the ground."

The United Nations raised the alarm on Friday on the significant increase in attacks carried out by settlers in the occupied West Bank against Palestinians and their property, with about 600 such attacks recorded since the beginning of 2023.