RAMALLAH, November 2 (JMCC) - Attacks against Palestinian children, by a minority of extremist Jewish settlers, are increasing finds a
report by the NGO Defence for Children International (DCI) –Palestine.
The death of three children, and injury of 42 others has resulted from 38 separate incidents that were investigated by DCI over the last two years.
Such attacks are usually carried out in groups and tend to be characterised by verbal harassment, intimidation, physical assault and the destruction of property, the study found.
In 13 of the cases, settlers opened fire, killing three children and injuring another 10. Physical assault and intimidation was also reported in 15 cases, and stone throwing in another nine incidents. Cursing and verbal abuse was documented in almost every case.
Continued settlement expansion and a growing settler population in the occupied territory have severely impacted the security of the Palestinian population, particularly children, whose lives are increasingly threatened by wilful attacks perpetrated by extremist settlers, the report said.
In eight cases, soldiers colluded with the attack by either joining in, turning a blind eye or punishing the victims rather than the perpetrators, it found.
The DCI study also found that Israel's failure to enforce the law and hold the perpetrators accountable for their actions had created an atmosphere in which settlers enjoy impunity and Palestinians live in fear.
Annual figures compiled by Israeli rights group Yesh Din about complaints of settler offences against Palestinians have repeatedly shown that nine out of 10 police investigations fail to lead to a prosecution.
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