Israeli army escorts settlers, attacks Palestinians in raids near Ramallah

The Israeli army protected settlers as they assaulted Palestinians west of the occupied city of Ramallah, attacking them when responding to the settlers on Thursday.

More than 150 Israeli settlers stormed and raided the village of al-Mazra’a ash-Sharqiya west of Ramallah, witnesses told Palestinian Authority’s official news agency, Wafa.

The Israeli forces protecting the settlers were heavily armed and fired teargas at teenagers who tried to force the settlers out of the occupied territory.

Settlement violence is rampant in the occupied West Bank where settlers, who have immunity in carrying out their illegal activities, are increasing in their presence. 

A group of Israeli settlers carried out attacks overnight on Monday in the occupied West Bank, vandalising a mosque and cars and spraying "death to Arabs" on homes.

The group targeted the villages of al-Laban, al-Sharqiya and al-Aswiya, south of Nablus city, vandalising a mosque and slashing tyres of 30 vehicles.

Local sources told The New Arab the settlers tried to remove the doors of a village mosque with the intention of burning them, as well as defacing the walls of houses and cars with racist slogans including "Death to the Arabs" and "Revenge".

Other messages included "Expel or kill" and "Enough with administrative orders", referring to measures to prevent settler violence including detention, bans from entering the West Bank, and bans on contacting certain individuals, as well as nightly curfews.

Earlier this month, Israeli forces killed a deaf Palestinian father during violence in the occupied city of Hebron.

More than 600,000 Israeli Jews live in settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, in constructions considered illegal under international law and a major impediment to peace. 

Settlements defy international law, and building on occupied territories breaks a number of UN Security Council resolutions.

The settlements are also banned under Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.

A boycott movement - also called the BDS movement - advocates international economic disengagement against Israel in what supporters say is a non-violent way to promote the Palestinian cause. It has urged businesses, artists and universities to sever ties with Israel.