SALFIT, February 20, 2017 (WAFA) – Israeli settlers from the illegal Rafafa settlement Monday destroyed water well used by Palestinians in the southern part of Deir Istiya town to the north of Salfit, for irrigation purposes, according to a local official. 

Head of Deir Istiya municipality, Saed Zaidan, said the water well was built a long time ago and belongs to a local farmer who was identified as Jaber ‘Aqel.

According to B’Tselem, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, “As the occupying force, Israel must protect the Palestinians in the West Bank. However, the Israeli authorities neglect to fulfill this responsibility and do not do enough to prevent Israeli civilians from attacking Palestinians, their property and their lands.”

“The undeclared policy of the Israeli authorities in response to these attacks is lenient and conciliatory. Perpetrators are rarely tried, and many cases are not investigated at all or are closed with no operative conclusions.”

T.R/M.H