UN says pace of Israeli settler attacks up 4-fold
UN says pace of Israeli settler attacks up 4-fold
By KARIN LAUB and MOHAMMED DARAGHMEH
— Jan. 15, 2014 3:13 PM EST
QUSRA, West Bank (AP) — The annual rate of Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians has almost quadrupled in eight years, U.N. figures show, buttressing claims that Israeli security forces have largely failed to stem the so-called "price tag" campaign in which thugs cut down trees, deface mosques and beat Palestinian farmers.
Israeli leaders have repeatedly denounced such attacks — the defense minister last week branded them "outright terrorism" — and the military says soldiers are under strict orders to stop them.
Still, critics say Israeli governments stacked with pro-settler politicians have often been reluctant to confront settlers, even those seen as a hardline fringe.
"There is not enough pressure from the prime minister, the defense minister, the interior minister to prevent this," said Gadi Zohar, a former senior army commander in the West Bank.
More:
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/un-says-pace-israeli-settler-attacks-4-fold
