UNDERSTANDING SETTLER VIOLENCE AGAINST PALESTINE'S CIVILIANS
When Settlers Attack
Yousef MunayyerExecutive DirectorPalestine Center
Data
Over 1000 unique eventsCovers Jan. 1, 2009-Aug. 30, 2010Coded from PLO NSU daily reportsExtracted information includes Date, Village,
Attack type, Settlement, Casualties and other details.
Special Thanks to Mikki O'Leary, Sana Saeed, Katharine Forman and Elise Springuel
The Palestine Center
Seeking to Understand…
Who is attacking? What types of attacks are taking place? How does this vary over space and time?Who is being attacked? What can be done about it?
The Palestine Center
Who is attacking?
Settlers from two-thirds of settlements in the West Bank.
Different types of settlements - Religious, Orthodox, Secular and Mixed - to varying degrees.
Of the 1000+ events, we know the settlement of origin for 279 incidents.
The Palestine Center
The Most Dangerous Settlements
Bat A
yin
Brach
a
Hal
mish
Hav
at G
ilad
Keddu
mim
Kiryat
Arb
a
Yitz
har
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Number of Attacks*These 7 settlements alone account for 50% of all attacks where settlement of origin is known.
The Palestine Center
Attacks By Settlement Character
Mixed Secular Religious Orthodox0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
Attacks
The Palestine Center
EVENT TYPES RANGE FROM PERSONAL ATTACKS, TO ATTACKS ON PROPERTY, TO RAIDS, ARSON, ATTEMPTED ATTACKS AND TRESPASSING.
What types of events?
Stone
Thr
owin
g
Tresp
assing
Assau
lt
Destr
uctio
n of
Pro
pert
y
Arson
05
10152025
Top 5 Event Types
Percent of Total
The Palestine Center
• TRESPASSING - CROSSING INTO NON-SETTLEMENT PALESTINIAN LANDS. SETTLEMENT OF ORIGIN IS KNOWN IN ONLY 8% OF THESE CASES.
Event Types Explained
The Palestine Center
• STONE THROWING - THROWING STONES AT CIVILIANS, CARS OR PROPERTY
Event Types Explained
The Palestine Center
• ASSAULT - PERSON TO PERSON PHYSICAL ATTACKS
Event Types Explained
The Palestine Center
• DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY - DAMAGE TO HOMES, VANDALISM, CARS, OLIVE TREES.
Event Types Explained
The Palestine Center
• ARSON - SETTING FIRE TO FARM LAND, GROVES OR STRUCTURES.
Event Types Explained
The Palestine Center
Other Event Types
Top 5 make up nearly 70% of the events.Other 30% is split between:
Abduction Harassment Land/House Seizure Open Fire (Shooting) Raids Theft Vehicular Assault
The Palestine Center
Events by Administrative Area
The Oslo Accords created the division of authority over territory in the West Bank into Areas A, B and C.
Area A - Palestinian Security Control (Subject to Israel Security)
Area B - Palestinian Civil Control, Israeli Security Control
Area C - Full Israeli Security Control. All Settlements located here.The Palestine Center
Events by Administrative Area
A B C0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Across Areas
% Events% Population% Land
The Palestine Center
West Bank Governorates
The Palestine Center
Bethlehem Hebron Jenin Jericho Jerusalem Nablus Qalqilya Ramallah Salfit Tubas Tulkarem0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Governorate by % Events, % Population, % Settler to Palestinian Population
% Population% Events% Settler Population
Event By Governorate
Bethl
ehem
Jeni
n
Jeru
sale
m
Qal
qily
a
Salfi
t
Tulk
arem
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
By Governorate
Percent
The Palestine Center
Event By Governorate
The Palestine Center
Bethl
ehem
Jeni
n
Jeru
sale
m
Qal
qily
a
Salfi
t
Tulk
arem
0
5
10
15
20
25
Trespassing
Percent
Event By Governorate
The Palestine Center
Bethl
ehem
Jeni
n
Jeru
sale
m
Qal
qily
a
Salfi
t
Tulk
arem
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Stone Throwing
Percent
Event By Governorate
The Palestine Center
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45 Assault
P...
Event By Governorate
The Palestine CenterBet
hleh
em
Heb
ron
Jeni
n
Jeric
ho
Jeru
sale
m
Nab
lus
Qal
qilya
Ramal
lah
Salfit
Tubas
Tulka
rem
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Destruction of Property
Percent
Event By Governorate
The Palestine Center
Bethl
ehem
Heb
ron
Jeni
n
Jeric
ho
Jeru
sale
m
Nab
lus
Qal
qilya
Ramal
lah
Salfit
Tubas
Tulka
rem
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Arson
Percent
Vulnerable Targets
Beit S
ahhu
r
Burin
Halhu
l
Homes
h
Huwwar
a
Imm
atin
Iraq
Burin Jit
Khirb
et S
afa
Qaryu
t
Sheik
h Ja
rrah
Silwan
Tal R
umei
da0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Most Attacked Targets
Events
The Palestine Center
Vulnerable Targets
Number of Attacks: 13
Area: A,C
Governorate: Bethlehem
Source of Attacks: Outpost of Ush Gharb
Notable Methods of Violence: Trespassing, Raids, Destruction of Property
Beit Sahhur
The Palestine Center
Vulnerable Targets
Number of Attacks: 40
Area: B
Governorate: Nablus
Source of Attacks: Bracha, Yitzhar Settlements
Notable Methods of Violence: Arson, Stone Throwing, Destruction of Property
Burin
The Palestine Center
Vulnerable Targets
Number of Attacks: 10
Area: B
Governorate: Hebron
Source of Attacks: Karmei Tzur Settlement
Notable Methods of Violence: Assault, Vehicular Assualt
Halhul
The Palestine Center
Vulnerable Targets
Number of Attacks: 20
Area: C
Governorate: Nablus
Source of Attacks: Evacuated Settlement of Homesh
Notable Methods of Violence: Assault, Stone Throwing
Homesh Area
The Palestine Center
Vulnerable Targets
Number of Attacks: 17
Area: B,C
Governorate: Nablus
Source of Attacks: Settlements of Yitzhar and Bracha
Notable Methods of Violence: Assault, Stone Throwing
Huwwara
The Palestine Center
Vulnerable Targets
Number of Attacks: 12
Area: B
Governorate: Qalqilya
Source of Attacks: Evacuated Settlement of Havat Gilad
Notable Methods of Violence: Arson, Assault, Stone Throwing
Immatin
The Palestine Center
Vulnerable Targets
Number of Attacks: 26
Area: B
Governorate: Nablus
Source of Attacks: Settlements of Bracha and Yizthar
Notable Methods of Violence: Arson, Assault, Stone Throwing
Iraq Burin
The Palestine Center
Vulnerable Targets
Number of Attacks: 20
Area: C
Governorate: Qalqilya
Source of Attacks: Evacuated Outpost of Hivat Gilad
Notable Methods of Violence: Arson, Stone Throwing
Jit
The Palestine Center
Vulnerable Targets
Number of Attacks: 21
Area: B,C
Governorate: Hebron
Source of Attacks: Bat Ayin
Notable Methods of Violence: Arson, Open Fire
Khirbet Safa
The Palestine Center
Vulnerable Targets
Number of Attacks: 10
Area: B,C
Governorate: Nablus
Source of Attacks: Settlements of Eli and Shilo
Notable Methods of Violence: Arson, Assault, Destruction of Property
Qaryut
The Palestine Center
4
88 5
312
11
1
20
23
3
7
2
643
26
3
5
5
5
The Palestine Center
Main Roads Between Nablus,Qalqilya & Salfit
A Shift North?
In 2008 UN OCHA documented that 42% of all events happened in the Hebron Governorate, 21% in Nablus and 11% in Qalqilya.
In 2009 numbers show 29% in Hebron, 22% in Nablus and 11% in Qalqilya.
Jan
Feb Mar
April
May
June Ju
lyAug
Sept
OctNov Dec Ja
nFeb
Mar
chApr
ilM
ayJu
ne July
Aug05
1015202530354045
Percent Share of Attacks By Month for Nablus and Hebron
NablusHebron
The Palestine Center
A Shift North?
2010 numbers suggests violence is shifting north with Nablus being the locale of 28% of events, Hebron second at 21% and Ramallah and Qalqilya after that with 12% and 11% respectively. Note that 2010 numbers still do not capture violence during the Olive Harvest in the fall.
Jan
Feb Mar
April
May
June Ju
lyAug
Sept
OctNov Dec Ja
nFeb
Mar
chApr
ilM
ayJu
ne July
Aug05
1015202530354045
Percent Share of Attacks By Month for Nablus and Hebron
NablusHebron
The Palestine Center
Events Over Time
2006* 2007* 2008*(P) 2009 2010 (P)0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
Events and Casualties over Time
Number of EventsCasualties
*Numbers for 2006, 2007, 2008 from UN OCHA
(P) Numbers for 2008 and 2010 are projections for the entire year based on 10 and 8 months of data respectively.
The Palestine Center
Events Over Time
The Palestine Center
1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 430
5
10
15
20
25
30Tulkarem
Tubas
Salfit
Ramallah
Qalqilya
Nablus
Jerusalem
Jericho
Jenin
Hebron
Bethlehem
Num
ber o
f Eve
nts
Events Over Time
1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 430
5
10
15
20
25
30
Tulkarem
Tubas
Salfit
Ramallah
Qalqilya
Nablus
Jerusalem
Jericho
Jenin
Hebron
Bethlehem
Num
ber o
f Eve
nts
Early April 2009 - After right-wing coalition formed, tit-for-tat violence leads to spike in Hebron, attacks in other Governorates unprovoked.
The Palestine Center
1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 430
5
10
15
20
25
30
Tulkarem
Tubas
Salfit
Ramallah
Qalqilya
Nablus
Jerusalem
Jericho
Jenin
Hebron
Bethlehem
Num
ber o
f Eve
nts
Events Over Time
June-July-September 2009 – 4 different peaks resulting from “price tag” events related to reported dismantling of outposts in Qalqilya, Nablus and Hebron.
The Palestine Center
Events Over Time
1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 430
5
10
15
20
25
30
Tulkarem
Tubas
Salfit
Ramallah
Qalqilya
Nablus
Jerusalem
Jericho
Jenin
Hebron
Bethlehem
Num
ber o
f Eve
nts
Late October-November 2009 – Olive harvest season brings Palestinian civilians, targets of settler violence, into open rural areas.
The Palestine Center
Events Over Time
1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 430
5
10
15
20
25
30Tulkarem
Tubas
Salfit
Ramallah
Qalqilya
Nablus
Jerusalem
Jericho
Jenin
Hebron
Bethlehem
Num
ber o
f Eve
nts
December 2009 – Major spikes due to announcement of settlement moratorium with brief and abrupt hiatus during Hanukah period.
The Palestine Center
Events Over Time
1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 430
5
10
15
20
25
30Tulkarem
Tubas
Salfit
Ramallah
Qalqilya
Nablus
Jerusalem
Jericho
Jenin
Hebron
Bethlehem
Num
ber o
f Eve
nts
Mid February 2010 – Spike comes after announcement that Settler Building (The Jonathan Pollard House) in Jerusalem would not be built
The Palestine Center
Events Over Time
1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 25 28 31 34 37 40 430
5
10
15
20
25
30Tulkarem
Tubas
Salfit
Ramallah
Qalqilya
Nablus
Jerusalem
Jericho
Jenin
Hebron
Bethlehem
Num
ber o
f Eve
nts
Mid-March, April, Mid & Late May 2010- Major spikes after Biden incident, announcement of Ramat Shlomo halt, start of proximity talks. Attacks taper off after Netanyahu invited back to White House for conciliatory meeting.
The Palestine Center
Main Findings
A majority of events (90%) take place in areas where Israel has security jurisdiction under Oslo.
50% of attacks are perpetrated by Settlers from only 7 settlements.
Most heavily affected governorates are Nablus and Hebron. Attacks in Hebron often take place in the city whereas in Nablus they take place against villages.
Vulnerable villages are often adjacent to main roads.
The Palestine Center
Main Findings
Main Roads between Nablus, Qalqilya and Salfit continue to be gauntlet of violence. Other roads also very vulnerable.
There is a remarkable increase in both events and casualties over the last several years.
Spikes in violence are often motivated by Israeli action or perceived threat of action, against presence of settlements. The average number of events per week increased 22% after the ‘settlement freeze’ announcement.
Violence is consistent and systematic, happening in all governorates and in 280 unique villages and locations across the WB in our data set.
The Palestine Center
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