Palestinian sources reported that on Wednesday evening dozens of Israeli settlers closed the main road near Tiqua’ town, east of the West Bank city of Bethlehem, blocking Palestinian traffic which led to an extended traffic jam.The settlers, accompanied by Israeli soldiers and policemen, closed the main road leading to the Al-Menya area, east of Tiqua’. This forced hundreds of residents to use an alternate extended route in order to avoid the harassment of the soldiers and the settlers, the Palestine Press News Agency reported.
Local sources reported that the settlers were chanting slogans against the Arabs, Muslims and Palestinians while raising Israeli flags and anti-Arab signs. No clashes were reported despite the high tension caused by the settlers and the soldiers.
Attacks carried out by extremist settlers have seriously increased in the occupied West Bank and in occupied East Jerusalem. These attacks include torching mosques, attacking Palestinian homes and vehicles, and uprooting Palestinian orchards and farmlands.
Several attacks were also carried out against Israeli peace groups such as Peace Now Movement.
