Settler Violence a Tool of Israeli Colonial Control, Researcher States

Settler violence against Palestinians is no longer considered isolated acts but rather a coordinated policy supported by the Israeli government, according to researcher Ibrahim Rabay'a. He stated that this violence, extending from the Jordan Valley to Masafer Yatta, is integrated with the actions of the Israeli army and civil administration, serving as a tool to reshape Palestinian space and create irreversible facts on the ground.

During the recent Jewish Sukkot holiday, settler gangs carried out widespread attacks across the occupied West Bank. On Tuesday, large numbers of settlers burned homes and property in villages near Ramallah and Nablus. Settlers also stormed the town of Bitunia and the "Griyot" road west of Ramallah, protected by the Israeli army. Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that settlers in vehicles attacked passing cars and threw stones, creating fear.

In the Nablus area, settlers set fire to homes and property in the village of Jaloud. Israeli media reports revealed efforts within the Israeli military to reopen Road 463, known as "Griyot Road," which cuts through the urban area of Ramallah and al-Bireh, potentially isolating eight villages and two large residential neighborhoods. Additionally, the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission reported that Israeli authorities expanded the boundaries of an old "state land" declaration over lands belonging to Jaloud and al-Mughayyir villages, adding nearly 200 dunams.

Rabay'a explained that settler attacks are not random but serve settlement plans, particularly in the Ramallah and Nablus regions. He described a network of integrated small groups operating under a unified strategy, with attacks often synchronized in pattern and method. He noted that areas experiencing the most pressure from attacks are those targeted for settlement projects, with the exception of Jenin. Rabay'a asserted that this pattern is not solely a settler initiative but a state-sponsored project, with Israeli government institutions now serving the settlement enterprise.

He further elaborated that the targeting of Road 463, which bisects the Ramallah and al-Bireh urban area, is deliberate. This road is crucial for the expansion of Ramallah, particularly the new al-Rihan neighborhood and areas designated for official institutions and foreign embassies. Rabay'a indicated that the project has been transferred to the army for study, with plans for military gates and checkpoints. Settlers have repeatedly entered the area, planting Israeli flags and attempting to create new realities.

In the Nablus region, settler violence aims to isolate Palestinians from each other by intensifying settlement between Ramallah and Nablus, thereby cutting off the northern West Bank from the center. Another objective is to strengthen horizontal settlement infrastructure, targeting villages along the route from the Green Line to the Jordan Valley to reduce travel time to the valley and attract investment. Rabay'a also mentioned that in Jenin, security concerns are being exaggerated to justify the rebuilding of two settlements dismantled in 2005, and the return of Israeli military presence.