QALQILYA – March 25, 2018 (WAFA) – Extremist Israeli settlers attacked on Sunday Palestinian farmers while they were farming their lands in the village of Immatin, to the east of Qalqilya in the occupied West Bank, local sources said.

Head of village council, Haithan Sawan, told WAFA that settlers from illegal Gilad settlement attacked the farmers while they were working in their agricultural lands, injuring an elderly identified as Yousef Mahmoud Barri, 63, and causing him bruises in the head. He was moved to hospital for medical treatment.

Settler violence against Palestinians and their property is routine in the West Bank and is rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities.

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.”

C.K/M.N