The Palestinian village of ‘Asirah al-Qibliyah in Nablus District is surrounded by several settlements, including Yitzhar, which was established on some of the village’s land. For years, the villagers have been suffering from repeated attacks by settlers, including physical assaults and damage to their property and land.

These attacks, like many that occur throughout the West Bank, form part of an established Israeli policy that does not consider settler violence against Palestinians as criminal or even illegitimate. On the contrary – the state nearly always backs these acts, as they serve its purposes.

In August 2020, settlers attacked the village several times. In most cases, they were escorted by soldiers who did nothing to protect the Palestinians. The soldiers only intervened when the residents came out to defend their homes and property, and fired tear gas canisters and stun grenades at them. The incidents described below took place last month in the village.

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