In light of the fierce attack waged by the settlers against the citizens, and the attacks against them, as a result of which massacres took place, as happened in the town of Huwwara , south of Nablus, talking, in conjunction with the 47th anniversary of Land Day , about activating guard or protection committees is necessary to enhance the steadfastness of citizens in their homes and lands.

About ten years ago, guard or protection committees were formed, with the escalation of settler attacks, and they seemed to decrease and increase in frequency according to need, especially in areas adjacent to settlements and close to bypass roads, but activists and observers believe that the need has become urgent for them, warning that if things are left unchecked and confronted For the settlers, they might dare break into the heart of the cities and carry out attacks.

The threat of settlers may reach the heart of cities

The director of the Popular Action Department in the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, Abdullah Abu Rahma, confirms in an interview with Al-Quds.com that in light of the escalation of settler crimes, the reactivation of the guard committees has become an important and necessary matter, especially at this stage, and everyone should be aware of this. Danger, otherwise settlers will reach the heart and centers of cities.

Abu Rahma says: "The threat of settlers threatens everyone, and in all areas, which requires everyone to unite and repel settler attacks, which have recently concentrated in areas south of Nablus and northeast of Ramallah, and it has become necessary to activate guard committees and involve the local community from the targeted village and other villages." Neighborhood, pumping morale and strengthening the steadfastness of the people," stressing that the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission is fully prepared to provide logistical support in the context of providing self-defense equipment "knifes, sticks, and others."

Awareness and organization are important

Abu Rahma stresses that it is necessary to raise awareness of the importance of the People's Protection Committees, the importance of organizing them, and training these committees on the ease of communication when attacks occur and how to respond to them, in addition to the importance of recruiting international solidarity activists to convey the picture as it is.

Abu Rahma stresses that the areas where there are guard committees have less damage resulting from settler attacks, as preparing for any attack reduces these losses, and therefore it is required to activate these committees, and they are present in many areas, but their work varies between ebbs and flows, but In light of the presence of more organized settlers with their attacks, it is necessary to organize and activate the guard committees, so that the response to the attacks will be faster.

Abu Rahma asserts that in conjunction with "Earth Day, it has become necessary to form guard and protection committees that provide security and safety for the citizens, spread morale among them, and not leave them and their lands." When you do not find someone to strengthen you to steadfastness, this may push you to emigrate against your will. Resilience and defiance, and confronting the settlers' plans.

Urgent need!

The official responsible for the settlement file in the northern West Bank, Ghassan Douglas, confirms in an interview with Al-Quds.com that activating the guard committees has become an urgent need and requires a binding factional decision to activate them, and the need to raise awareness of their importance. Citizens must also unite more and work to facilitate the tasks of the guard committees.

For his part, the coordinator of the popular committees to resist the wall and settlements in southern Hebron, Ratib al-Jubour, told Al-Quds.com: “Recruiting specific people to be in the guard committees is an important matter, and the need for people to unite with them and support them, but they must be supported financially and unloaded, in order for them to live.” , with the need to continuously monitor their work.”

Al-Jabour points out that the role of the factions in the guard committees is very weak, which necessitates an active review of their role, which requires the official authorities to create certain formations as guard committees in order to provide protection for the Palestinian people.

Organization and preparation

In an interview with Al-Quds.com, the director of the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission's office in the northern West Bank, Murad Ishteiwi, stresses the necessity of activating the protection and guard committees, as it has become an important issue, in an attempt to achieve safety and security for citizens, and he says: "The protection committees need to be organized into groups and supported logistically."

Shteiwi explains that the guard committees did not stop their work, but the settlers use some of their time to attack, which requires reorganizing the guard committees, and this matter is everyone's responsibility, as it is necessary to work effectively towards organizing them, and for the factions to take the issue of the guard committees seriously.

According to the human rights researcher and activist against settlements, Bashar Al-Qaryouti, the protection committees face, in an interview with Al-Quds.com, trained settlers who provide them with full capabilities, while the guard committees try to confront the settlers with simple capabilities consisting of stones, naked bodies, and anger! Stressing that these committees need to provide them with protection tools such as flashlights and tools that intimidate settlers, such as warning sirens and others.

Al-Qaryouti says: "In recent years, settlers have launched their attacks with full protection from the occupation army. Indeed, many settlers are armed, and pose a threat to the lives of citizens, and what is noticed is their attack in large numbers."

Al-Qaryouti believes that there must be a role for the factions in strengthening and activating the protection committees, through daily shifts, and for homeowners who are attacked, so they have an early warning process to confront those settlers.

Danger threatens the Bedouins

The director of the "Al-Baydar" Organization for the Defense of Bedouin Rights, Hassan Malihat, said in an interview with Al-Quds.com that the settlers have become a real threat to people's lives, and the formation of protection committees is an important matter, especially in the patriarchal communities, where more than one incident was caught of settlers breaking into Bedouin tents.

Malihat stresses that the protection committees in the areas of Bedouin communities are an important matter, and the areas have become dangerous, being remote areas, and the people are currently playing a guard role for fear of incursions and attacks on them, and crimes may occur against them, as a prelude to their displacement from those communities.