Hebron settlers rampage in reaction to outpost crackdown

Ma'an
Israeli settlers rampaged through the southern West Bank city of Hebron on Monday afternoon, smashing the windows of cars and setting fire to at least one vehicle, according to Israeli media.

... Militant settler groups have declared their intention to exact a “price tag” for every outpost or structure that is removed by their government. Usually this involves attacks on Palestinians.

In a separate incident, Palestinians said that settlers stoned cars on a highway south of the city of Nablus, in the northern West Bank. At least one car’s windows were smashed, according to the newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth...

... Israel’s current right-wing government has chosen to crack down on a handful of the outposts instead of responding to international calls for a total freeze on construction in all West Bank settlements, including those sanctioned by the government.

The outposts are makeshift encampments set up by settler activists without prior government approval. Frequently outposts grow into full-fledged settlements with the complete compliment of government services and army protection. About 500,000 settlers live in illegal Israeli colonies in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. Full story