Urgent appeal to the international community: stop forced transfers in the West Bank.

We, the undersigned Israeli human rights and civil society non-governmental organizations, call on the international community to act urgently to stop the wave of settler violence – backed and supported by the state – that has led and continues continues to lead to the forced transfer of Palestinian communities in the West Bank.

Over the past three weeks, since the October 7 atrocities by Hamas, settlers have exploited the lack of public attention given to the West Bank, as well as the general climate of rage against the Palestinians, to increase their campaign of violent attacks, with the aim of orchestrating a forced transfer of Palestinian communities. During this period, no less than 13 communities were displaced. Many more are threatened with being forced to flee in the coming days if no immediate action is taken.

Palestinian farmers are particularly vulnerable right now, during the olive harvest period, because if they cannot collect these fruits, they will lose their income for the year. Yesterday, Bilal Mohammed Saleh, from the village of As-Sawiya – south of Nablus – was assassinated while heading towards his olive trees. He is the 7th Palestinian killed by settlers since the start of this war.

Unfortunately, the Israeli government is supportive of these attacks and is doing nothing to stop this violence. On the contrary: government ministers and other officials support the violence, and often the army is present or even participates in this violence, even in incidents in which settlers have killed Palestinians. Furthermore, since the start of the war, physical evidence establishes that in an increasing number of cases, settlers attack Palestinian communities while wearing military uniforms and using government-supplied weapons.

With grave concern and clear apprehension of the political landscape, we recognize that the only way to put an end to this forced transfer to the West Bank is clear, strong and direct intervention by the international community.

It’s time to act now.

Signatories
A Land for all – Two States, One Homeland, Akevot Institute, Amnesty International Israel, Association for Civil Rights in Israel, B’Tselem, Bimkom – planers for Planning Rights, Breaking the Silence, Combatants for Peace, Comet-ME, Emek Shaveh , HaMoked: center for the Defense of the Individual, Haqel – In Defense of Human Rights, Itach-Maakki – Women Lawyers for Social Justice, Ir Amin, Jordan Valley Activists, Kerem Navot, Machsom Watch, Mothers Against Violence Israel, Other Voice, Parents Against Child Detention, Physicians for Human Rights Israel, Policy Working group (PWG), Psychoactive, Rabbis for Human Rights, Re’acha Kamocha, Social Workers for Welfare and Peace, The School for Peace in What al-Salam neve Shalom, Torat Tzedek, Yesh Din, Zazim – community Action, Zochrot
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Translated by: AFPS