West Bank attacks by Jewish settlers deemed acts of terrorism by the US
VIOLENCE by Jewish settlers has been cited for the first time in a list of ''terrorist incidents'' in a United States annual report, as Israeli leaders condemned a string of attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem.
The State Department report also detailed the threats to Israel from Hamas and other Palestinian groups in Gaza and the West Bank, and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The inclusion of Palestinian targets reflects concern that violence by a minority of Jewish extremists could trigger a new cycle of conflict and damage prospects of a peace agreement.
''Attacks by extremist Israeli settlers against Palestinian residents, property and places of worship in the West Bank continued,'' said the Country Reports on Terrorism 2011. It referred to ''price tag'' operations, meaning violence committed by settlers against Palestinians in retribution for actions by the Israeli government or army deemed ''anti-settler''.
Advertisement
US and European officials have become more vocal in criticising settler violence amid fears it could provoke a violent response from Palestinians.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/west-bank-attacks-by-jewish-settlers-deemed-acts-of-terrorism-by-the-us-20120820-24iop.html#ixzz24GUi8KGi
= new reply since forum marked as read
