Palestinians blame West Bank hate crime on Pompeo announcement

The PA ministry held the Israeli government "fully responsible for these attacks and their consequences."

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
A burnt car as the result of a price tag attack in Beit Dajan, Qabalan, West Bank (photo credit: ARAB MEDIA)
A burnt car as the result of a price tag attack in Beit Dajan, Qabalan, West Bank
(photo credit: ARAB MEDIA)
The Palestinian Authority Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the settler violence against Palestinians on Friday was the direct result of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's recent announcement that settlements are not inconsistent with international law.
On Friday Palestinian vehicles were torched, their tires slashed and graffiti was scrawled in price tag attacks in four separate Palestinian villages near the West Bank cities of Nablus, according to the Israeli Left-wing group Yesh Din.
In hate crimes took place in the village of Majdal Bani Fadel, Qabalan, Beit Dajan and Kafr-a-Dikh.
The PA Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it condemned "in the strongest terms the attacks of settler militias and their armed organizations against Palestinian citizens, their land and their vehicles."
"The escalation of settlers' terrorist acts against Palestinians falls within the framework of an expansionist colonial plan that is being implemented under the protection and support of the occupation forces, with the aim of expanding existing settlements," the ministry said.
The PA ministry held the Israeli government "fully responsible for these attacks and their consequences." It also held the US administration responsible for the consequences of settlement and "settler terrorism against Palestinian citizens, especially after the announcement of US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo."
The ministry called on the Secretary-General of the United Nations "to accelerate the activation of the international protection system for the Palestinian people before it is too late, so as to help maintain what's left of international credibility to ensure peace."
Hamas spokesperson Fawzi Barhoum called on the Palestinian Authority to take “firm, national and responsible” steps to protect Palestinian civilians against such violence and “to end all forms of collaboration with the Israeli occupation.”
The Hamas spokesperson urged West Bank’s residents to “repulse all forms of Israeli aggression and put an end to such attacks.


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