Israeli settlers have launched an attack on the Christian village of Taybeh, east of Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank. The incursion began at dawn on Monday.
They set fire to two cars owned by Palestinian residents and spray painted racist graffiti on walls in the village.
“You’ll regret it later,” read one message, not clarifying what the villagers had done to earn the settlers’ wrath.
Once the settlers left, the Israeli military raided the village spreading further panic among residents.
The campaign of settler intimidation, with Israeli army backing, coincides with the establishment of a new Israeli settlement near Taybeh in June.
Monday’s attack is the second on this small Palestinian village in as many weeks.
Just a fortnight earlier on 14 July, settlers set the village’s historic Church of Saint George alight, along with its adjoining graveyard.
That attack was severe enough to prompt rare condemnation of Israeli settlers by the American ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee.
“It’s my desire to do everything possible to let the people of this peaceful village know that we will certainly insist that those who carry out acts of terror and violence in Taybeh – or anywhere – be found and be prosecuted,” he said.
Also read: Israeli settlers repeat attack on Palestinian Christian village in occupied West Bank
