US expresses concern over rise in extremist settler violence in West Bank

The United States has expressed concern by the recent reports of increasing extremist settler violence in the West Bank.

This was disclosed at a Press Briefing on Tuesday by State Department Spokesman, Mathew Miller who said the United States is also concerned by the increase in reported attacks that are preventing Palestinians from harvesting their olive crops in the West Bank.
According to him, “Earlier today, extremist settlers reportedly set fire to 20 cars owned by Palestinians in Al-Bireh city in the West Bank. When the owners of the vehicles came outside to put out the fires, they report that settlers opened fire on them.

“The United States is deeply concerned by these and other recent reports of increasing extremist settler violence in the West Bank, in Jurat Al Khiel, where Palestinians were attacked by scores of extremist settlers who damaged property.
“Assaulted civilians, and released dogs to attack residents, and in the Palestinian village of Jalud, south of Nablus, where over dozens of extremist settlers reportedly killed livestock, attacked homes, and set fire to vehicles”, the spokesman narrated.

Miller stated that these violent actions cause intense human suffering for Palestinians, threaten Israel’s security, make realization of a two-state solution more difficult undermine the prospects for peace and stability throughout the region.

Adding that it’s critical that the Government of Israel deter extremist settler violence and take measures to protect all communities from harm, in accordance with international obligations, includes intervening, preventing, and stopping such violence.
He said, “It is further incumbent upon the relevant authorities to do everything possible to de-escalate tensions, hold perpetrators of violence against the civilians accountable, no matter the background of the perpetrator or the victim”.

The United States maintained several measures to promote accountability and combat increasing extremist settler violence. “Since February of this year, US has imposed sanctions on 14 individuals and 13 entities for undermining peace, security, and stability in the West Bank.

“As President Joe Biden and Secretary Antony Blinken have emphasized, we will continue to use all tools at our disposal to promote accountability for violence in the West Bank and around the region”, the Spokesman added.