June 2018

Settler violence is par for the course for Palestinians in the West Bank. When a Palestinian woman leaves her house in the morning, she might find her car’s tires have been slashed. When a Palestinian farmer goes out to his land, he might find his olive grove vandalized or his sheep slaughtered. In April 2018 alone, we documented 14 settler assaults across the West Bank.

Israel both enables this reality – by its deliberate lack of law enforcement and by sending soldiers to guard settlers who attack Palestinians and even help them – and reaps its benefit. Under its policy, no house, no car, no field is safe, and settlers can do as they please without suffering any consequences. The policy’s impact far exceeds the specific harm to individuals and their property. It creates a chilling, nerve-wracking effect on life in general, as people live with the knowledge that there is no law and no justice, that they and their property are free game. Living in constant fear of what is to come is an inherent part of daily life under the occupation.

The photographs below depict nine of fourteen attacks carried out in April. Reports on scores of other incidents, including video footage of settler violence, are available via our topic page.