The United States has condemned the killing of a Palestinian by two Jewish settlers, labeling the incident as terrorism. This sharp tone seemingly reflects Washington’s frustration with the escalating violence in the occupied West Bank during the tenure of the extremist right-wing Israeli government.
The Israeli police have arrested the settlers in connection with the incident which occurred last Friday near the village of Burqa, east of Ramallah.
Palestinians have reported that the two were part of a group that threw stones and set fire to vehicles. When the villagers confronted the group, the two opened fire, resulting in the death of a 19-year-old youth and the injury of several others.
Preliminary investigations by the Israeli army described the incident as an escalated confrontation that caused injuries on both sides. Defense lawyers claimed the settlers acted in self-defense. One of the accused did not attend the court session due to a head injury.
The Israeli prosecution charged the settlers, according to a charge sheet obtained by Haaretz newspaper, with committing a “deliberate or recklessly negligent homicide” with a racial motive.
The U.S. State Department, in a statement released late Saturday evening, stated: “We strongly denounce the terrorist attack carried out by extremist Israeli settlers yesterday that led to the death of a 19-year-old Palestinian.” It further urged “full accountability and justice.”
