NABLUS, October 11, 2017 (WAFA) – Israeli settlers attacked on Tuesday night Palestinian commuters near the Hawwara checkpoint, south to the city of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, said local sources, causing damage to several cars.

Ghassan Daghlas, who monitors settlement activities in the northern West Bank, said that a group of settlers threw rocks at Palestinian vehicles near Hawwara checkpoint damaging windows. There were no reports of anyone hurt.

Settlers’ violence against Palestinians and their property is regular in the West Bank. Nearly three weeks ago, settlers torched olive trees near the village of Kufr Qalil, to the south of Nablus city, as the olive harvest season begins. 

According to the Israeli rights group B’Tselem, “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,” stressed the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, B’Tselem.

Palestinians, on the other hand, who throw rocks at Israeli vehicles are usually pursued, arrested during night raids at their family homes, and sentenced to several years in prison on charges of attempted murder.

K.T./M.K.