Israeli settler violence sweeps West Bank amid olive harvest

Army-backed Israeli settlers carried out a series of assaults on Palestinians and olive pickers across the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, amid an escalating wave of settler violence.

In the town of Atara, north of Ramallah, residents woke on Wednesday to find two vehicles torched and racist slogans spray-painted on a home.

Mayor Nizar Moghrabi told Middle East Eye that settlers infiltrated the Turfin area after midnight, set fire to the vehicles and scrawled threatening messages on a house wall.

“We don’t know how many settlers there were or where they came from, but they managed to reach homes in the village and burn the vehicles,” he said.

Last August, settlers established their first outpost on Atara’s land, placing mobile homes in the Turfin area, from which they have since launched repeated attacks on Palestinian homes.

According to Moghrabi, since the outpost’s establishment, the town has faced multiple assaults, including vehicle arson and the smashing of windows, aimed at forcing residents to leave the area.

“We don’t know if the Israeli army was aware of the attack,” he added, “but even if it was, it’s the same army that protects them.”

Read more: Israeli settler violence sweeps West Bank amid olive harvest