In just over two months, from the beginning of May to 7 July 2018,
B’Tselem documented 10 instances in which settlers destroyed a total of
more than 2,000 trees and grapevines and burned down a barley field and
bales of hay. In some places, the settlers left behind them graffiti
slogans in Hebrew, reading “No to farmer terrorism” and “We’ll reach
every spot”. Some of the farmers had already suffered settler violence
in recent years.
While this high incidence of the assaults is unusual, the phenomenon
itself has long since become routine in the West Bank. Settler violence
and vandalism takes place with full backing by the Israeli authorities.
Sometimes soldiers take part in the assault; at other times, they stand
idly by. The police makes no substantial effort to investigate the
incidents, nor takes measures to prevent them or stop them in real time.