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Palestinian Town Defends Itself Against Israeli Settler Attacks
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia /Conflict & Security

Palestinian Town Defends Itself Against Israeli Settler Attacks

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Palestinians in the West Bank town of Sinjil have formed volunteer groups to defend themselves against increasing Israeli settler attacks.
  • These groups use patrols and WhatsApp alerts to warn residents and confront attackers, as they feel unprotected by Israeli authorities.
  • The Israeli government's approval of new settlements is seen as facilitating violence and hindering the prospect of a Palestinian state.

On a cool June night, around 15 Palestinians from Sinjil, a town in the occupied West Bank, gathered on a hilltop. Their mission: to watch the valleys below for any sign of movement that could signal an impending Israeli settler attack. They are part of a growing number of grassroots volunteer groups across the West Bank stepping up to defend their communities.

We have been left on our own. You are facing settlers supported by their government. We have nobody. So we are forced to stay here and protect this town.

— Fadi AlwanFadi Alwan, a volunteer in the grassroots group defending the Palestinian town of Sinjil, describes the feeling of abandonment and the necessity of self-defense against escalating settler violence.

These volunteers say they are forced to act because the Israeli military and their own government have proven unable or unwilling to prevent rising settler violence. "We have been left on our own. You are facing settlers supported by their government," said Fadi Alwan, one of the volunteers. "We have nobody. So we are forced to stay here and protect this town."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has approved hundreds of new settlements and outposts in the West Bank. Palestinians argue these outposts often serve as bases for violence that has displaced thousands. Most of the world considers Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank illegal under international law, a view Israel disputes. Palestinians report that when they contact Israeli police or the military, responses are often delayed or favor settlers. "The army protects them and doesn't stop them. We call the army. We call the police. It's useless," Alwan stated.

The army protects them and doesn't stop them. We call the army. We call the police. It's useless.

— Fadi AlwanFadi Alwan expresses frustration with the perceived inaction of Israeli security forces in preventing or responding to settler attacks.

To counter these attacks, residents of Sinjil employ tactics like using searchlights to scan hills and organizing patrols. They rely heavily on community WhatsApp groups to alert each other to potential threats. "If they get close to the houses, we go confront them, we send (messages out) on the WhatsApp groups," Alwan explained. He recounted a recent daytime attack where he was beaten by a settler while harvesting wheat.

If they get close to the houses, we go confront them, we send (messages out) on the WhatsApp groups.

— Fadi AlwanFadi Alwan explains the communication and response strategy employed by the volunteer defense groups in Sinjil.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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