Riots in the West Bank: Settlers blocked the road, chased away a father and son, and fled with the vehicle
Palestinians reported 19 documented settler attacks across the West Bank during the olive harvest, including vehicle arson, uprooting of olive trees, theft of agricultural produce, and attacks on farmers. In the village of Yabrud, settlers blocked a vehicle, chased away a father and his young son, and stole it. Dozens of armed settlers arrived in northern Ramallah, threw stones, and fired into the air. Palestinians claim some attacks occurred alongside IDF forces or under their protection.
Palestinians reported 19 documented settler attacks across the West Bank during the olive harvest. The attacks included vehicle arson, uprooting of dozens of olive trees, theft of agricultural produce and livestock, attacks on farmers, and stone-throwing at Palestinian vehicles. In the village of Yabrud, east of Ramallah, settlers blocked a vehicle in the middle of the road, chased away a Palestinian and his young son, and stole it. A military force arrived at the scene after a report of an attack by Palestinians, which turned out to be false. In the village of Ein Qiniya, the theft of 20 sheep from a farmer was reported, and IDF soldiers prevented the herd owner from approaching the sheep. In Birin, east of Hebron, an elderly woman was injured after settlers set dogs on olive pickers. In the village of Deir Abu Zia, residents and foreign volunteers were attacked, and one foreign activist was beaten. Dozens of armed settlers arrived in the area between Sarda and the A-Rihan neighborhood, north of Ramallah, throwing stones at vehicles and firing into the air. This is the group "Hargevim," an organization of hikers and scouts in the West Bank, who destroyed a monument and fired into the air. Palestinians claimed that in some incidents, settlers acted alongside IDF forces or under their protection. The Palestinian Authority condemned the attacks and claimed they were intended to prevent Palestinians from cultivating their land and to push them off it. The harvest season began this week, which annually brings tension between settlers and Palestinians. The period will be challenging for the security establishment, with over a hundred agricultural farms in the area.