RAMALLAH, Thursday, February 21, 2018 (WAFA) – Israeli settlers today spray-painted racist graffiti and slashed tires of several vehicles in the villages of Al-Janiya and Ras Karkar, west of the city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, according to local sources.

Radi Abu Fkheida, head of Ras Karkar village council, said settlers sneaked into the village during the night, damaged tires of 10 Palestinian-owned vehicles and spray-painted racist and anti-Arab slogans on some of them.

Settlers also sneaked into Al-Janiya and spray-painted racist graffiti on cars, residents told WAFA.

Israeli settler violence against Palestinians and their property is routine in the West Bank and is rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities. It includes property and mosque arsons, stone-throwing, uprooting of crops and olive trees, attacks on vulnerable homes, among others.

Between 500,000 and 600,000 Israelis live in Jewish-only settlements across occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank in violation of international law.

International organizations have reported a sharp rise in recent years in settler violence against Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank.

K.T./M.K.