RAMALLAH, December 1, 2017 (WAFA) – The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Thursday strongly condemned the killing of a Palestinian farmer by Israeli Jewish settlers in Qusra village, south of Nablus.

Member of PLO Executive Committee Hanan Ashrawi condemned “in the strongest terms” the killing of Mahmoud Odeh, 48, by Israeli settlers while he was tending to his field near Qusra.

Settlers reportedly trespassed on Odeh’s field near Qusra before shooting him dead and injuring Fayez Hasan, 47, in the leg. Following the attack, Israeli forces stormed the village to protect settlers, restricting Palestinians’ movement.

“Under the protection of the Israeli army, illegal and extremist Jewish settlers continue to terrorize and attack defenseless Palestinian civilians.  Yet, their acts of violence and destruction remain unchecked by Israel,” said Ashrawi.

She held Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing extremist government responsible for “generating a culture of systemic racism, injustice, and hate against the Palestinian people, and enabling its extremist settler population to act as terrorists.”

“Clearly, Israel is more committed to appeasing the settlers at the expense of the indigenous Palestinians than to bringing its criminals to justice,” she added.

She called on “all members of the international community to undertake concrete measures and to hold Israel liable for its unbridled violations.”

“Accountability should include punitive measures and sanctions before Israel succeeds in generating more violence, extremism and instability,” she concluded.