The Palestine News Network reports that on Wednesday afternoon, extremist settlers set fire to crops owned by Palestinian farmers near Hebron.It is alleged that the settlers came from the settlement of Kiryat Arba. The wheat crops and land they were planted on are owned by Palestinians from the village of Bani Naim. The crops were entirely destroyed.
Palestinians have condemned the attack, including the Governor of Hebron, who points out that were the Israeli government to withdraw its support, the settlers would not be able to carry out such attacks. Prosecution for criminal acts by settlers against Palestinians is virtually unheard of.
Both the Israeli and Palestinian fire services helped to extinguish the fire once it began rapidly spreading, although the Israeli fire service was criticised for only extinguishing those parts of the fire that threatened the settlement.
