Israelis donate £355,000 to victims of Jewish settler riot in Palestinian town

Hundreds of settlers set a Palestinian town on fire in the West Bank in revenge for a terrorist attack that killed two Israelis. The IDF treats the settler attacks as terror.

By Jotam Confino in Israel 28 February 2023, 9:38 am

An aerial view shows a building and cars burnt in an attack by Israeli settlers, following an incident where a Palestinian gunman killed two Israeli settlers, near Hawara in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, February 27, 2023. REUTERS/Ammar Awad

Some 10,600 Israelis have donated more than £355,000 to the victims of Jewish terror attacks in a Palestinian town in the West Bank.

Over 300 settlers stormed the town of Huwara in the northern West Bank on Sunday, setting fire to 75 Palestinian homes and over 100 cares. Nine Palestinian families had to be evacuated from their homes after they were set on fire.

The online campaign was launched by Labor party member Yaya Fink the morning after the attacks, which also saw a 37-year-old Palestinian man killed, and over 100 injured.

“As a religious person, as a Zionist, as a Christian, as a human being, I cannot remain silent when my people, with the support of elected officials, burn villages,” Fink said.

Fink referred to comments made by Jewish Power party lawmaker Zvika Foighel, who said he “looked favourably upon” the terror attacks committed in Huwara.

“I want to see that place burn. Metaphorically,” Foighel, who chairs the Knesset National Security Committee, said the morning after the attacks, causing Opposition Leader to call for Foighel to be jailed for inciting to terror.

The terrorist attacks came in response to a Palestinian terror attack which killed two Israeli brothers, Hallel Yaniv, 21 and Yagel Yaniv, 19, in Huwara on Sunday. The settlers had announced they would embark on a “revenge” march toward Huwara that same day.

An IDF official said the military was treating the settlers attacks as terrorism.

The terror attacks in Huwara were widely combined by Israeli lawmakers, as well as President Herzog, who said: “I strongly condemn the cruel and violent rampage against the residents of Huwara yesterday. This is not our way. It is criminal violence against innocents.”

The U.S., EU, and UK also issued statements condemning the settler rampage, with UK ambassador to Israel, Neil Wigan, calling on Israel to “tackle settler violence, with those responsible brought to justice.”