Dozens of settlers attack a Palestinian town in the West Bank

Ramallah, London (Al-Ittihad, Agencies)

Yesterday morning, settlers stormed the town of Beita, south of Nablus, while Britain announced the imposition of sanctions on two settlement groups and four settlers who committed acts of violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
Palestinian media reported that dozens of settlers, protected by Israeli forces, stormed the summit of Mount Al-Arma, located between the towns of Beita and Aqraba, south of Nablus.
Sirens sounded in the town in anticipation of the settlers attacking civilians and their homes, while the mosques of the town of Beita called for confronting the settlers.
In a related context, Britain announced yesterday the imposition of sanctions on two settlement groups and four settlers who committed acts of violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
The Foreign Ministry said, in a statement, “Foreign Secretary David Cameron announced on Friday the imposition of further sanctions on extremist Israeli groups and individuals due to acts of violence in the West Bank.”
She added, “Today’s package includes two groups known for their support, incitement, and encouragement of violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank, in addition to 4 individuals responsible for committing human rights violations against these communities.”
She continued: “These measures come after an unprecedented rise in settler violence in the West Bank over the past year, as the United Nations recorded nearly 800 incidents since last October.”
This is the second batch of sanctions after the first batch was announced last February and included 4 settlers.
The British Foreign Office said: “The additional sanctions package targets those who incite and commit settler violence against Palestinian communities in the West Bank.” She stated that the sanctions include the “Hill Youth” group, and said that it is “an extreme nationalist Israeli youth group that establishes illegal settlement sites throughout the West Bank with its declared mission of expelling all Palestinians from the occupied territories.”
She added: “Sanctions were also imposed on (Lehava) for facilitating, inciting and encouraging violence against Arab and Palestinian communities.”
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said, according to the same statement: “Extremist settlers are working to destabilize security and stability and threaten the prospects for peace.”
He added: “The latest sanctions package targets two groups leading these attacks, and four individuals directly responsible for horrific acts of violence against Palestinian civilians.”
The British Foreign Secretary indicated that “the United Kingdom will not hesitate to take further measures if necessary, including by imposing further sanctions.”
The British Foreign Office said: “Friday’s measures impose financial restrictions on entities and individuals, and restrictions on individual travel.”