Expansion of settler outposts in West Bank villages heightens fears of increased attacks

TURMUS AYYA, West Bank Anxiety hangs over this Palestinian village, evident in the hurried harvests, vigilant glances across the valley, and strict adherence to safe roads. Residents live with the constant threat of sudden attacks by armed Israeli settlers.

They appear in minutes, gather quickly, and ambush without warning, said Yasser Alkam, a Palestinian-American lawyer and local farmer. They hide among trees and severely beat anyone they encounter.

Alkam reports that Turmus Ayya has faced near-daily settler attacks, especially after a newly established outpost reportedly on village land, according to the anti-settlement group Peace Now. Fear prevents him from accessing his fields, and he recounts witnessing a settler strike a Palestinian grandmother unconscious with a spiked club.

Violence is widespread across the West Bank. During Octobers olive harvest, the United Nations recorded an average of eight settler attacks per day, the highest since data collection began in 2006. By November 24, at least 136 additional incidents had been documented, including car burnings, mosque desecrations, industrial facility raids, and cropland destruction.

Israeli authorities have offered only sporadic condemnations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the perpetrators as a minority, not representing most settlers. Yet the ongoing outpost expansions and unchecked attacks have created a climate of fear for Palestinians.

On October 19, Alkam saw Afaf Abu Alia, a grandmother from Al-Mughayyir, harvesting olives in Turmus Ayya after her own trees had been destroyed by the Israeli military. Settlers suddenly appeared, one running toward her with a club. The monsters started beating me, she recalled. Video shows her being struck repeatedly, leaving her hospitalized with 20 stitches to her head.

Military authorities said troops had intervened in a violent confrontation involving settlers. Israeli police later arrested Ariel Dahari, charging him with terrorism. Represented by the settler-support group Honenu, Dahari has a history of administrative restrictions and had twice been expelled from the West Bank. Human rights observers say most attacks by settlers go unpunished, a trend exacerbated under the far-right leadership of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Defense Minister Israel Katz. Investigations into settler violence have sharply declined, with very few resulting in indictments or convictions. From 2005 to 2024, only 3% of investigations ended in conviction.

Dahari expressed determination to remain in the West Bank, asserting settlers will continue building on the land. His lawyer contended that evidence against him was minimal.

The threat persists due to the Emek Shilo outpost, established this year on private Palestinian land, according to Peace Now. Villagers report that Amishav Melet, the outposts founder, patrols the valley armed and monitors their movements. Outposts, often starting as simple sheds, can evolve into fully authorized settlements, threatening Palestinian communities. Local resident Abdel Nasser Awwad halted construction on his home due to settler harassment, including damage to equipment and attacks on workers. Settlers and drones frequently patrol the area.

Melet, previously convicted of assaulting police and restricted from the West Bank, claims to be a peace activist and denies involvement in violence, calling allegations part of a campaign against Zionism.

To protect themselves, Turmus Ayya villagers use mosque sirens to warn of approaching settlers. Young men form barriers at village entrances, while cameras in the fields aim to document assaults. This vigilance contrasts sharply with earlier harvests, once peaceful family gatherings in the groves. Despite past attacks, Abu Alia remains determined to continue her work in the olive fields.

Author: Sophia Brooks