Israeli settlers allegedly torched a vehicle and sprayed graffiti in a West Bank village near Ramallah on Tuesday night, according to Palestinian media.

The suspected crime took place in Ein Yabrud, northeast of Ramallah.

Images showed graffiti reading “Stop persecuting Jews” and “Avi Bluth don’t mess with us.” That statement refers to the commander of the IDF’s Central Command, who has recently denounced the settler violence that has spiked in recent months.

Police were expected to investigate the incident. There were no immediate reports of arrests, and there has been little effective enforcement against settler violence.

Settler attacks against Palestinians have been escalating in recent months, especially coinciding with the annual olive harvest, which began in October. In that time, settlers, and sometimes soldiers, have carried out near-daily violence against olive pickers, as well as Palestinians and their property in general.

The increase in violence prompted security agencies to increase efforts to combat the attacks. Prosecutions of Jewish extremists are rare, however, and convictions are even rarer. Critics have accused the right-wing government of shrugging off the........

© The Times of Israel