When settlers attack

UNDERSTANDING SETTLER VIOLENCE AGAINST PALESTINE'S CIVILIANS

When Settlers Attack

Yousef MunayyerExecutive DirectorPalestine Center

Data

Over 1000 unique eventsCovers Jan. 1, 2009-Aug. 30, 2010Coded from PLO NSU daily reportsExtracted information includes Date, Village,

Attack type, Settlement, Casualties and other details.

Special Thanks to Mikki O'Leary, Sana Saeed, Katharine Forman and Elise Springuel

The Palestine Center

Seeking to Understand…

Who is attacking? What types of attacks are taking place? How does this vary over space and time?Who is being attacked? What can be done about it?


Who is attacking?

Settlers from two-thirds of settlements in the West Bank.

Different types of settlements - Religious, Orthodox, Secular and Mixed - to varying degrees.

Of the 1000+ events, we know the settlement of origin for 279 incidents.


The Most Dangerous Settlements

Bat A

yin

Brach

a

Hal

mish

Hav

at G

ilad

Keddu

mim

Kiryat

Arb

a

Yitz

har

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Number of Attacks*These 7 settlements alone account for 50% of all attacks where settlement of origin is known.


Attacks By Settlement Character

Mixed Secular Religious Orthodox0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Attacks


EVENT TYPES RANGE FROM PERSONAL ATTACKS, TO ATTACKS ON PROPERTY, TO RAIDS, ARSON, ATTEMPTED ATTACKS AND TRESPASSING.

What types of events?

Stone

Thr

owin

g

Tresp

assing

Assau

lt

Destr

uctio

n of

Pro

pert

y

Arson

05

10152025

Top 5 Event Types

Percent of Total


• TRESPASSING - CROSSING INTO NON-SETTLEMENT PALESTINIAN LANDS. SETTLEMENT OF ORIGIN IS KNOWN IN ONLY 8% OF THESE CASES.

Event Types Explained


• STONE THROWING - THROWING STONES AT CIVILIANS, CARS OR PROPERTY



• ASSAULT - PERSON TO PERSON PHYSICAL ATTACKS



• DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY - DAMAGE TO HOMES, VANDALISM, CARS, OLIVE TREES.



• ARSON - SETTING FIRE TO FARM LAND, GROVES OR STRUCTURES.



Other Event Types

Top 5 make up nearly 70% of the events.Other 30% is split between:

Abduction Harassment Land/House Seizure Open Fire (Shooting) Raids Theft Vehicular Assault


Events by Administrative Area

The Oslo Accords created the division of authority over territory in the West Bank into Areas A, B and C.

Area A - Palestinian Security Control (Subject to Israel Security)

Area B - Palestinian Civil Control, Israeli Security Control

Area C - Full Israeli Security Control. All Settlements located here.The Palestine Center

Events by Administrative Area

A B C0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Across Areas

% Events% Population% Land


West Bank Governorates


Bethlehem Hebron Jenin Jericho Jerusalem Nablus Qalqilya Ramallah Salfit Tubas Tulkarem0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Governorate by % Events, % Population, % Settler to Palestinian Population

% Population% Events% Settler Population

Event By Governorate

Bethl

ehem

Jeni

n

Jeru

sale

m

Qal

qily

a

Salfi

t

Tulk

arem

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

By Governorate

Percent




Bethl

ehem

Jeni

n

Jeru

sale

m

Qal

qily

a

Salfi

t

Tulk

arem

0

5

10

15

20

25

Trespassing

Percent



Bethl

ehem

Jeni

n

Jeru

sale

m

Qal

qily

a

Salfi

t

Tulk

arem

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Stone Throwing

Percent



0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45 Assault

P...


The Palestine CenterBet

hleh

em

Heb

ron

Jeni

n

Jeric

ho

Jeru

sale

m

Nab

lus

Qal

qilya

Ramal

lah

Salfit

Tubas

Tulka

rem

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

Destruction of Property

Percent



Bethl

ehem

Heb

ron

Jeni

n

Jeric

ho

Jeru

sale

m

Nab

lus

Qal

qilya

Ramal

lah

Salfit

Tubas

Tulka

rem

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Arson

Percent

Vulnerable Targets

Beit S

ahhu

r

Burin

Halhu

l

Homes

h

Huwwar

a

Imm

atin

Iraq

Burin Jit

Khirb

et S

afa

Qaryu

t

Sheik

h Ja

rrah

Silwan

Tal R

umei

da0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Most Attacked Targets

Events


Vulnerable Targets

Number of Attacks: 13

Area: A,C

Governorate: Bethlehem

Source of Attacks: Outpost of Ush Gharb

Notable Methods of Violence: Trespassing, Raids, Destruction of Property

Beit Sahhur


Vulnerable Targets


Area: B

Governorate: Nablus

Source of Attacks: Bracha, Yitzhar Settlements

Notable Methods of Violence: Arson, Stone Throwing, Destruction of Property

Burin


Vulnerable Targets


Area: B

Governorate: Hebron

Source of Attacks: Karmei Tzur Settlement

Notable Methods of Violence: Assault, Vehicular Assualt

Halhul


Vulnerable Targets


Area: C

Governorate: Nablus

Source of Attacks: Evacuated Settlement of Homesh

Notable Methods of Violence: Assault, Stone Throwing

Homesh Area


Vulnerable Targets


Area: B,C

Governorate: Nablus

Source of Attacks: Settlements of Yitzhar and Bracha

Notable Methods of Violence: Assault, Stone Throwing

Huwwara


Vulnerable Targets


Area: B

Governorate: Qalqilya

Source of Attacks: Evacuated Settlement of Havat Gilad

Notable Methods of Violence: Arson, Assault, Stone Throwing

Immatin


Vulnerable Targets


Area: B

Governorate: Nablus

Source of Attacks: Settlements of Bracha and Yizthar

Notable Methods of Violence: Arson, Assault, Stone Throwing

Iraq Burin


Vulnerable Targets


Area: C

Governorate: Qalqilya

Source of Attacks: Evacuated Outpost of Hivat Gilad

Notable Methods of Violence: Arson, Stone Throwing

Jit


Vulnerable Targets


Area: B,C

Governorate: Hebron

Source of Attacks: Bat Ayin

Notable Methods of Violence: Arson, Open Fire

Khirbet Safa


Vulnerable Targets


Area: B,C

Governorate: Nablus

Source of Attacks: Settlements of Eli and Shilo

Notable Methods of Violence: Arson, Assault, Destruction of Property

Qaryut


4

88 5

312

11

1

20

23

3

7

2

643

26

3

5

5

5


Main Roads Between Nablus,Qalqilya & Salfit

A Shift North?

In 2008 UN OCHA documented that 42% of all events happened in the Hebron Governorate, 21% in Nablus and 11% in Qalqilya.

In 2009 numbers show 29% in Hebron, 22% in Nablus and 11% in Qalqilya.

Jan

Feb Mar

April

May

June Ju

lyAug

Sept

OctNov Dec Ja

nFeb

Mar

chApr

ilM

ayJu

ne July

Aug05

1015202530354045

Percent Share of Attacks By Month for Nablus and Hebron

NablusHebron


A Shift North?

2010 numbers suggests violence is shifting north with Nablus being the locale of 28% of events, Hebron second at 21% and Ramallah and Qalqilya after that with 12% and 11% respectively. Note that 2010 numbers still do not capture violence during the Olive Harvest in the fall.

Jan

Feb Mar

April

May

June Ju

lyAug

Sept

OctNov Dec Ja

nFeb

Mar

chApr

ilM

ayJu

ne July

Aug05

1015202530354045

Percent Share of Attacks By Month for Nablus and Hebron

NablusHebron


Events Over Time

2006* 2007* 2008*(P) 2009 2010 (P)0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Events and Casualties over Time

Number of EventsCasualties

*Numbers for 2006, 2007, 2008 from UN OCHA

(P) Numbers for 2008 and 2010 are projections for the entire year based on 10 and 8 months of data respectively.


Events Over Time


1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 430

5

10

15

20

25

30Tulkarem

Tubas

Salfit

Ramallah

Qalqilya

Nablus

Jerusalem

Jericho

Jenin

Hebron

Bethlehem

Num

ber o

f Eve

nts

Events Over Time

1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 430

5

10

15

20

25

30

Tulkarem

Tubas

Salfit

Ramallah

Qalqilya

Nablus

Jerusalem

Jericho

Jenin

Hebron

Bethlehem

Num

ber o

f Eve

nts

Early April 2009 - After right-wing coalition formed, tit-for-tat violence leads to spike in Hebron, attacks in other Governorates unprovoked.


1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 430

5

10

15

20

25

30

Tulkarem

Tubas

Salfit

Ramallah

Qalqilya

Nablus

Jerusalem

Jericho

Jenin

Hebron

Bethlehem

Num

ber o

f Eve

nts

Events Over Time

June-July-September 2009 – 4 different peaks resulting from “price tag” events related to reported dismantling of outposts in Qalqilya, Nablus and Hebron.


Events Over Time

1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 430

5

10

15

20

25

30

Tulkarem

Tubas

Salfit

Ramallah

Qalqilya

Nablus

Jerusalem

Jericho

Jenin

Hebron

Bethlehem

Num

ber o

f Eve

nts

Late October-November 2009 – Olive harvest season brings Palestinian civilians, targets of settler violence, into open rural areas.


Events Over Time

1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 430

5

10

15

20

25

30Tulkarem

Tubas

Salfit

Ramallah

Qalqilya

Nablus

Jerusalem

Jericho

Jenin

Hebron

Bethlehem

Num

ber o

f Eve

nts

December 2009 – Major spikes due to announcement of settlement moratorium with brief and abrupt hiatus during Hanukah period.


Events Over Time

1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 430

5

10

15

20

25

30Tulkarem

Tubas

Salfit

Ramallah

Qalqilya

Nablus

Jerusalem

Jericho

Jenin

Hebron

Bethlehem

Num

ber o

f Eve

nts

Mid February 2010 – Spike comes after announcement that Settler Building (The Jonathan Pollard House) in Jerusalem would not be built


Events Over Time

1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 430

5

10

15

20

25

30Tulkarem

Tubas

Salfit

Ramallah

Qalqilya

Nablus

Jerusalem

Jericho

Jenin

Hebron

Bethlehem

Num

ber o

f Eve

nts

Mid-March, April, Mid & Late May 2010- Major spikes after Biden incident, announcement of Ramat Shlomo halt, start of proximity talks. Attacks taper off after Netanyahu invited back to White House for conciliatory meeting.


Main Findings

A majority of events (90%) take place in areas where Israel has security jurisdiction under Oslo.

50% of attacks are perpetrated by Settlers from only 7 settlements.

Most heavily affected governorates are Nablus and Hebron. Attacks in Hebron often take place in the city whereas in Nablus they take place against villages.

Vulnerable villages are often adjacent to main roads.


Main Findings

Main Roads between Nablus, Qalqilya and Salfit continue to be gauntlet of violence. Other roads also very vulnerable.

There is a remarkable increase in both events and casualties over the last several years.

Spikes in violence are often motivated by Israeli action or perceived threat of action, against presence of settlements. The average number of events per week increased 22% after the ‘settlement freeze’ announcement.

Violence is consistent and systematic, happening in all governorates and in 280 unique villages and locations across the WB in our data set.


When settlers attack

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