Israeli colonists attack al-Mughayyir villagers, attempt to destroy farmlands

RAMALLAH: Continuing with their terror rampages, armed Israeli colonists today attacked the villagers of al-Mughayyir, east of the West Bank city of Ramallah, and attempted to destroy their farmlands, according to a local activist. Mohammad Abu Alya said that armed colonists rampaged through the olive groves of the villagers in an attempt to vandalize olive trees and opened fire at a group of villagers who attempted to confront them and fend off the attack. This came several days after colonists set up two tents at the nearby locality of Ayn al-Banat, stirring the villagers' fears that this could serve as a prelude to taking over villagers' lands and a nucleus of a future colony. Colonist violence against Palestinians and their property is routine in the West Bank and is rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities. Colonist violence includes property and mosque arsons, stone-throwing, uprooting of crops and olive trees, and attacks on vulnerable homes, among others. Over 700,000 Israeli colonists are living in colonies across occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank in violation of international law. Source: Palestine news & Information Agency – WAFA