Israeli settlers set fire to homes and cars in violent West Bank raids
Israeli settlers raided four Palestinian villages near Nablus and Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on Thursday night, setting homes and cars on fire. Palestinian officials said at least two people were injured. The European Union and the United Kingdom condemned the raids; the Israeli military said an investigation had been opened.
Israeli settlers carried out organised raids on four Palestinian villages around Nablus and Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on Thursday night. According to local sources, masked groups of around 200 people entered the villages, threw petrol bombs at homes and cars, and set agricultural land on fire. The Palestinian Health Ministry said at least two people were treated for injuries.
The Israeli military said it had opened an internal investigation into reports that troops on the scene failed to intervene as the raids unfolded. The European Union's foreign-policy chief called the violence 'unacceptable savagery,' and Britain's foreign office said settler violence had become 'systematic.' The US has yet to issue a statement.
International monitors say settler attacks have risen about 60% since the start of the year. With Hamas-Israel disarmament talks and the Iran war still unresolved, the regional tension is also weighing on economies: the Tel Aviv 35 index has slipped 2% over the past week.
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