Leftist Israeli writer Amira Hass said that hundreds of thousands of Palestinian villagers are exposed, at any given moment, to “uncontrolled” aggression from Jews who often wear religious garb and are armed with rifles, pistols, clubs, stones, or whatever materials they need to deliberately start fires.

She added that all of this is happening with the government’s protection and encouragement, under the protection of the army, and in light of the indifference of the majority of Israelis.

In her article in Haaretz newspaper, Hass reviewed some of the attacks launched by settlers on Palestinian villages and towns, such as their storming of the southern part of the village of Madama, south of Nablus, on April 26, before they left shortly thereafter.

In the Al-Khalayel area in the village of Al-Mughayir, northeast of Ramallah, a group of settlers opened fire on a number of farmers, and another group raided the Ain Al-Hilweh area in the northern Jordan Valley region, and destroyed a residential tent with the aim of expelling its residents.

On another day, a group of settlers entered the lands of the village of Kisan, southeast of Bethlehem, and attempted to steal a water tank attached to an agricultural tractor and agricultural equipment, but the residents were able to confront the group and prevent it from seizing their property.

Also on that day, settlers stormed the Ain al-Hawaiya area, located west of the village of Husan, west of Bethlehem, and performed prayers there. Another group of settlers stormed the village of Carmel, east of Yatta, and held prayers in its archaeological area.

The author reported in her article that a group of extremist settlers led by Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir, and under the protection of the occupation forces, visited the grave of Othniel Ben Kenaz, the first judge in the series of judges mentioned in the Book of Judges in the Jewish Bible, on April 25.

She explained that the number of Palestinian deaths and injuries had increased since October 7, as well as raids and arrests. Settler attacks also increased steadily, at a higher pace compared to before the outbreak of war in Gaza.

She pointed out that there is no way to know how many of these relatively “light” attacks and incursions occurred in places where Palestinians gave up reporting them or fled due to the pressure of orchestrated violence.

In this situation, it is not surprising - in the author's opinion - that the children of villagers who are under attack want to flee their villages, at a time when their parents are thinking about emigrating abroad.

Haas wrote, in her article in Haaretz newspaper, that those she sarcastically calls “God’s envoys” in this “Jewish holy war” are not stupid, as they are confident that this continuous harassment will lead to the desired result, which is either “voluntary immigration” or expulsion. “Punitive” collective, or both.

Source: Haaretz