By Meredith Lee-Clark

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

 

NABLUS, West Bank – Israeli settlers set fire to Palestinian automobiles, farm equipment, and buildings, and uprooted over fifty trees in the early morning on December 6. The settlers were allegedly protesting the Israeli government’s decision of a ten-month suspension in settlement construction in West Bank. The decision was a response to the Palestinian demand to freeze construction as a precondition for restarting peace talks.

 

Settlers reportedly set fire to property belonging to two Palestinian farmers in the town of Einabus, near Nablus, as well as a car and barn in the same area. Firefighters from the Palestinian Civil Defense Department were able to contain the fires, and reported that the property losses amounted to $40,000 (US).

 

The Israeli Defense Forces told the Ma’an News Agency that they could not confirm that the arsons were revenge attacks for the temporary construction suspension, but that a large military contingent was in the area, operating under the assumption that it was indeed “a revenge act.”

 

Settlers from the Yizhar settlement were likely involved, according to sources. The day before the arsons, a rabbi from the Yizhar settlement published an article that promoted confrontation to protest the settlement suspension.

 

“If there is no quiet for the Jews, there will be no quiet for the Arabs,” the article said. “A Civil Administration base can serve as a target for a quick, precise infiltration that could damage and destroy one of their offices. You destroy ours, we destroy yours!”

 

Many settlers have expressed outrage at what they deem to be a betrayal by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who they say was elected to preserve Israeli rule over the West Bank. Other Israelis believe Netanyahu is merely responding to pressure from the United States.

 

Prime Minister Netanyahu held a two-hour meeting with settlers in Tel Aviv on December 2, in which Netanyahu promised building could resume after the ten-month period. The settlers at the meeting widely dismissed any promises made by the Prime Minister.

 

Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are illegal under international law.

 

For more information, please see:

 

Ha’aretz – Youth Protesting Settlement Freeze Block Jerusalem Entrance – 7 December 2009

 

Ma’an News Agency – Settlers Torch Palestinian Property, Uproot Trees – 7 December 2009

 

Palestinian News Network – West Bank Settlers Reject Netanyahu’s Plea for Support – 7 December 2009

 

BBC News – West Bank Settlers Reject Netanyahu Plea for Support – 3 December 2009

 

Christian Science Monitor – In Israeli Settlements, Residents and Builders Push Back on 10-Month Freeze – 1 December 2009