1 Palestinian dead as settlers embark on West Bank rampage following terror attack
'Awful scenes in the West Bank today, with innocent Palestinians attacked by settlers, their property destroyed, and one person shot dead,' UK's ambassador to Israel said.
UK’s ambassador to Israel, Neil Wigan, condemned “awful scenes” in the West Bank where “innocent Palestinians” were attacked by Jewish settlers.
One Palestinian was killed and three injured on Wednesday as hundreds of settlers continued a revenge rampage against Palestinians in the West Bank for the second day in a row, following a deadly Palestinian terror attack.
Awful scenes in the West Bank today, with innocent Palestinians attacked by settlers, their property destroyed, and one person shot dead. I hope that calm is restored quickly, and that those responsible for violence are held to account.
— Neil Wigan (@FCDONeilWigan) June 21, 2023
An estimated 300 settlers took part in an attack on the Palestinian town of Turmus Ayya, setting fire to over 60 cars and 30 homes.
The revenge campaign began on Tuesday night, just hours after two Hamas members shot and killed four Israelis near the settlement of Eli.
Several cars, including an ambulance, were set on fire in Palestinian villages near the city of Nablus on Tuesday evening. Three settlers were arrested following the attacks.
— Local Focus – Security Alerts (@LocalFocus1) June 21, 2023
34 Palestinians were injured in sporadic attacks in the area of Nablus by settlers throwing stones at cars and physically attacking residents, including a 12-year-old boy, according to Palestinian media. Stores and private property were also vandalised.
NOW: Dozens of settlers attacking homes in the village of Al Luban Al Sharqiya in the Northern west bank.
Photos: local activists pic.twitter.com/I9v15eoUb2
— Yesh Din English (@Yesh_Din) June 20, 2023
The revenge attacks came just three months after some 400 settlers carried out what the IDF described as a “pogrom” in the Palestinian town of Huwara, which was also a reaction to a Palestinian terror attack in the West Bank that left two Israeli brothers killed.
Following the deadly terror attack near the settlement of Eli, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called on Prime Minister Netanyahu to launch a military operation the West Bank and to “return to targeted assassinations from the air, to bring down buildings, to erect roadblocks, to expel terrorists, and to finish passing the death penalty for terrorists law.”
Last night dozens of settlers attacked the villages of A Luban a-Sharqia, Qablan, Huwwara, Baytin, and at several junctions. Reported damage so far: 9 homes, a gas station & several businesses destroyed, 11 cars & tens of dunams of agricultural lands burned, several injuries. pic.twitter.com/8fQ685t7wr
— Yesh Din English (@Yesh_Din) June 21, 2023
Likud MK Tally Gotliv, meanwhile, demanded nothing short of a collective punishment of Palestinians.
“Killing terrorists isn’t enough. It’s heroic and brave, no question, but it’s not enough. The terrorists aren’t working alone. They only understand power! I am uncompromisingly right-wing. Wherever a terrorist comes from, the whole place needs to pay. Collective punishment. Only like that! I’ve had enough of a country that worships momentary quiet,” Gotliv said.
Following the widespread attacks on Palestinian towns, hundreds of settlers marched to the abandoned and illegal settlement outpost of Evyatar in the West Bank, demanding that the government re-establish a settlement there in response to the terror attack.
The outpost is illegal according to Israeli law, and the army has declared it a military zone, forbidding settlers from entering it.
Several leading figures in the settlement movement joined the march to Evyatar overnight, including Religious Zionism lawmaker Zvi Sukkot.
“We’ve returned home to Evyatar. Terrorists should know that any attack will only deepen the Jewish hold on the territory. Two years after being evacuated, the time has come for us to return forever,” Sukkot said.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.