Dutch Envoy Visits West Bank Village, Urges End to Settler Violence

The Netherlands' representative to the Palestinian Authority, Michel Rentenaar, traveled to the northern West Bank on Tuesday to voice concern over the ongoing settler siege of three Palestinian homes on the outskirts of Qusra village.

From a hilltop in the nearby village of Jurish, Rentenaar observed the homes that Israeli settlers have surrounded for over a week. The Palestinian families inside say they fear leaving, worried they will not be allowed to return and could lose their homes to settlers.

Speaking to journalists, Rentenaar said settler violence is not confined to Qusra and stressed that violence against other human beings is illegal under any circumstances. He added that the occupation authorities have a responsibility to stop such acts, but that insufficient measures have been taken to curb the violence.

Rentenaar is among the first foreign diplomats to visit Qusra, following criticism from several European countries and the United States. His visit coincided with the first full day in the village for Loui Ridi, a Palestinian American homeowner who traveled from Ohio to defend his property. Ridi said the army had not yet cleared settlers from the area.

The Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has dismissed concerns about settler violence as exaggerated, attributing incidents to a small number of fringe youth.

In the West Bank, about 2.8 million Palestinians live under Israeli military rule, while the Palestinian Authority exercises limited autonomy in population centers. Roughly 560,000 Israeli settlers reside in communities and outposts across the territory. Palestinian officials report that 87 Palestinians have been killed by settlers or soldiers this year, while three Israelis have been killed, including two in a nearby clash last month. Violent settlers rarely face arrest or prosecution, according to reports.