LONDON: The European Union’s representative to the Palestinian territories, Alexandre Stutzmann, has announced the launch of a program aimed at helping victims of attacks by extremist Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
Stutzmann made the announcement during a visit to the village of Al-Mughayyir, northeast of Ramallah, where Israeli settlers killed two Palestinians last week during an attack on a school.
Stutzmann said the initiative aims to provide proactive protection for Palestinians through volunteer groups and establish a system to enhance community safety and security, according to Wafa news agency.
On Thursday, he described the increase in violence from settlers as “a wake-up call.”
He said: “Unfortunately, we were unable to prevent these incidents, but we can work to ensure they are not repeated.”
Stutzmann added the EU was currently considering firm political measures along with other actions, including the rollout of the victim support program.
He was joined by Christophe Bigot, EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process, during the field visit.
At least 497 attacks have been perpetrated by Israeli settlers in the West Bank in March, according to the Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission. The majority took place in Hebron, Nablus, Ramallah and Jerusalem.
All settlements in the West Bank are considered illegal under international law. Excluding East Jerusalem, which Israel occupied in 1967, approximately 500,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank, alongside some 3 million Palestinians.
