Palestinian authorities claim that when hundreds of Israeli settlers attacked Arabs and set dozens of cars and homes on fire in the northern occupied West Bank town of Huwara on Sunday, at least one Palestinian was killed. Following the killing of two settlers in the town earlier in the day, according to Israeli authorities, a Palestinian shooter went on the spree.
The larger picture: The violence, including some of the worst by Israeli settlers in years, raises questions about the effectiveness of the agreements signed earlier on Sunday by Israeli and Palestinian authorities to defuse tensions in the West Bank.
Driving the news: According to Israeli authorities, a Palestinian gunman shot and murdered two Israelis early on Sunday when they were traveling through Huwara, a village close to Nablus. No one quickly claimed ownership, and as of Sunday afternoon, the shooter was still at large.
According to Israeli security sources, settlers assaulted the town hours after the shooting attack and set a number of Palestinian homes and more than two dozen Palestinian automobiles on fire. According to the officials, the Israeli military assisted in evacuating a number of Palestinian families.
According to the Palestinian Red Crescent, a 37-year-old Palestinian man died and numerous others were hurt.
The violence lasted for hours before the Israeli military took control of the area.
What they’re saying: The Palestinian Presidency in a statement condemned the attack on Huwara, calling it “a terrorist act carried out by Israeli settlers, under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces.”
The Palestinian Presidency blamed Israel and specifically pointed to the “positions of some ministers of this extreme right-wing government.” The Israeli government includes two ultranationalist ministers who are settlers and known for their Jewish supremacist rhetoric.
“This terrorism and whoever stands behind it aims to destroy and thwart the international efforts exerted to try to get out of the current crisis,” the statement added. The Palestinian Presidency urged the U.S. to lead the international community in pressing Israel to stop attacks against Palestinians.
