For first time, U.S. State Department defines settler violence as terrorism

Interesting development.

For the first time, the U.S. State Department has cited violence by settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank under the heading "terrorist incidents" in its annual Country Report on Terrorism. The 2011 U.S. Country Report - which profiles terrorist activities around the world - cites seven "2011 terrorist incidents" in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank. Along with rocket attacks from Gaza, the report identifies three "price tag" incidents - a term which has come to describe, among other things, attacks against Palestinian property in revenge for violence against settlers.

The report cites the 2011 vandalism of the Muslim Mamilla Cemetery in Jerusalem, an arson attack on a Jerusalem mosque in December, and another arson attack on a mosque in the village of Burqa in December. The report also states that 10 mosques in the West Bank and Jerusalem were vandalized or set on fire in 2011, and that these attacks were believed by Israeli authorities to have been "perpetrated by settlers, up from six such incidents in 2010 and one in 2009."

www.haaretz.com...#

The settlers in the West Bank are pretty atrocious, many of who come from abroad to take up the massive subsides that successive Israeli administrations have offered for settling there. Should settler groups now be classed as terrorist groups now that they are seen as committing acts of terrorism?

It will be interesting to see what that EU has to say on this.

This video is of the economic terrorism employed, the burning of Palestinian olive groves.

The report cites the 2011 vandalism of the Muslim Mamilla Cemetery in Jerusalem, an arson attack on a Jerusalem mosque in December, and another arson attack on a mosque in the village of Burqa in December. The report also states that 10 mosques in the West Bank and Jerusalem were vandalized or set on fire in 2011, and that these attacks were believed by Israeli authorities to have been "perpetrated by settlers, up from six such incidents in 2010 and one in 2009."

It is depressing to see Jewish settlers using the same tactics against Palestinians as Muslims have used against Christians in the Middle East.

reply to post by ollncasino


In the context of Palestine where and when are Muslims committing such acts? It is so easy (and lazy) to conflate the activities of a few Muslims from OTHER countries to a whole people.

The IDF protect the settlers during these attacks.

Jewish settlers attacked Kharuba area to the east of Yatta town near Al-Khalil city on Saturday afternoon and broke many olive and almonds trees, locals said. The locals expressed dismay and outrage at the repeated settlers’ attacks on their land under the very eyes of the Israeli occupation soldiers, who do not budge to stop the attacks. Mohammed Rubee, one of the inhabitants, told the PIC reporter that the settlers damaged the newly installed trees in front of the Israeli troops who arrived to the scene but did nothing.

The soldiers even prevented inhabitants from approaching their land and fired tear gas and stun grenades on them, Rubee said. He added that the soldiers threatened to take any citizen defending his land to the detention center in the notorious Kiryat Arba settlement.

occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com...

This is all part of an attempt at a slow motion ethnic cleansing.

Originally posted by Peruvianmonk
This is all part of an attempt at a slow motion ethnic cleansing.

Of course it is.

Unfortunately, Muslim extremists in the Arab world are just as guilty of the ethnic cleansing of Christians.

Time Magazine: Christians Under Siege in the Muslim World

Time Magazine

A series of violent incidents underscores the fragile position of Christians living in Islamic nations

Baghdad, Oct. 31, 2010
In an attack claimed by al-Qaeda, more than 50 worshippers were killed at the Sayidat al-Nejat Catholic Cathedral, ("Our Lady of Deliverance"), a Syrian Catholic church, during a Sunday-evening Mass at the end of October.

Alexandria, Egypt, Jan. 1, 2011
A suicide bomber set off an explosive amid a crowd of worshippers exiting a New Year's Mass at Saints Church, a Coptic congregation in the Mediterranean port city.

At least 20 people were killed in the Alexandria attack.

In many ways, the IDF is caught in the middle on this one. It's can be surprising to learn but in some very real ways there are 3 sides to the fighting in the West Bank, not two. Particularly after the withdrawal from Gaza, settlers seem to have become downright militant about never being moved again, by their own Government OR anyone else.

Operation Price Tag is one of the names given to the radical end of the Settler community who hit IDF outposts and bases after they think they've been wronged as quickly as they hit Palestinian villages just for the heck of it. It's a nasty bunch and on their own side from all I've read about it.

It doesn't lessen the core issues of the territories or settlements...but it's a whole different wrinkle to things that I've never even heard mentioned in major Western media.

reply to post by Peruvianmonk

For first time, U.S. State Department defines settler violence as terrorism

Are they terrorists ?

Yes , they are.

But they are good terrorists.

Like Al-Qaeda is good terrorist in Syria.

The only good terrorist is a dead terrorist..........at least as far as the world is concerned.....
Funny thng though....anyone who annoys the PTB, are suddenly labelled with the term

reply to post by Wrabbit2000


Well that maybe the case but the soldiers in the IDF platoons still stand by when the settlers attack the Palestinians and their land and come to their defence when the Palestinians attempt to defend themselves and their land.

Confrontations between settlers and the IDF, whether at Elon Moreh in 1974 or Ramat Gilad in 2011, remain tactical disputes between the principal Israeli agents of settlement and dispossession over the pace and direction of settlement.

www.fmep.org...

This frames the situation perfectly. One big charade.

reply to post by mideast

Are they terrorists ? Yes , they are. But they are good terrorists. Like al-Qaeda is good terrorist in Syria.

Interesting comparison, although they are different in their aims and tactics there are comparisons to be made. Both want a religious based state in law and governance for one thing.

reply to post by mideast


You know everytime someone says Al CIAda.....it reminds me of mexican salsa....or a nacho cheese of sorts....mmmmmm nacho terrorists........

It would seem the settler and IDF violence towards the Palestinians is spreading into mainstream Israeli society. Children attacking an Arab just because he is an Arab. The Israeli state has a lot to answer for, for these kind of incidents.

One of the suspects in the Jerusalem lynch case appeared at the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court for a remand hearing on Monday. Upon his arrival, he effectively confessed to the charges and lashed out at the victim, who is still in hospital. "He can die for all I care, he cursed my mother," he said. "There were 40-50 kids who all beat him." "I was at the square, I was involved," the 15-year-old admitted. "If I catch him I'll punch him. He should die. He's Arab, if you go the Damascus Gate you get stabbed." Meanwhile, police continue to investigate the brutal assault. On Sunday, four more suspects were arrested in connection with the case: A 15-year-old girl and three teenage boys aged 13, 15, and 17.

www.ynetnews.com...