https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-08-04/ty-article/.premium/israeli-settlers-torch-palestinian-farmhouse-tag-walls-with-revenge-and-price-tag/00000198-75f7-d7f7-a5db-fdf73b2f0000?utm_source=mailchimp&utm_medium=email&utm_content=author-alert&utm_campaign=Jack+Khoury&utm_term=20250804-22:25---------
Israeli Settlers Torch Palestinian Farmhouse, Tag Walls With 'Revenge' and 'Price Tag'
'We
show the army and police where they come from — it doesn't help,' says
Palestinian farm owner after settlers torch building and damage
orchards. Settler violence has surged across the West Bank in recent
weeks, with devastating consequences
Jack Khoury Aug 4, 2025
Settlers
torched a two-story building on a Palestinian farm in Turmus Ayya,
north of the West Bank city of Ramallah, spray-painting the words
"Revenge" and "Price Tag" on its walls. The attack is part of a series
of recent violent incidents targeting Palestinian property across the
West Bank.
The slogans "Revenge" and "Price Tag" mark acts of
alleged retaliation – often involving vandalism or arson – carried out
by radical settlers against Palestinians, typically in response to
Israeli government actions perceived as limiting settlement expansion.
Wadi'
Alqam, the owner of the farm, told Haaretz that settlers came to the
property and set fire to a two-story building, causing extensive damage
to the structure as well as to surrounding property and orchards.
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According
to Alqam, the settlers cut through the back fence and one of the
windows to break into the premises and ignite the fire. He noted that
this was the first time settlers had targeted their farm specifically,
although settler attacks on Palestinian farms in the area have
intensified in recent weeks.
Alqam added that in early June,
settlers uprooted dozens of olive trees he owns near the neighboring
villages of al-Mughayyir and Abu Falah.
"Just like before, there
will be no arrests," he said. "The army and the police come and take
statements. We show them where the settlers came from," he said. "But it
doesn't help. This is the meaning of occupation."
Residents
of Turmus Ayya have faced repeated settler violence. In one of the most
serious incidents, two years ago, some 200 settlers – some armed –
stormed the town, following a terror attack near the settlement of Eli,
in which four Israelis were shot and killed. The settlers set fire to
homes, vehicles, and farmland, damaging at least 15 houses and 30 cars,
according to Israeli security sources. During the attack, 27-year-old
Palestinian Omar Ketin was shot and killed. No arrests were made.
In
recent weeks, there have been several violent settler assaults across
the West Bank. On Saturday, a 24-year-old Palestinian was shot dead on
the outskirts of the town of Aqraba. Video footage captured settlers
approaching homes in the town while armed, followed by a confrontation
that ended in the fatal shooting of a local resident.
Last
Monday, Awdah Hathleen, a resident of Umm al-Kheir, was also shot dead
after settlers entered privately owned village lands using construction
equipment. Villagers attempted to block their passage and threw stones
at the group, one of whom was filmed firing in their direction.
About
ten days ago, settlers set fire to structures in the village of Deir
Alla in the southern West Bank. The IDF said troops at the scene
detained 12 suspected arsonists and handed them over to the police.
In
the aftermath, 17 families decided to flee the village following the
rampage; 14 of them left as of Sunday, and the remaining three planned
to leave the next day.
On
Thursday, Palestinian security sources said a 45-year-old Silwad
resident died of smoke inhalation while trying to extinguish a fire
reportedly set by settlers. The sources said settlers entered the town
and torched 12 vehicles and residential homes while IDF troops were
present. Settlers also spray-painted racist graffiti at the scene.
Human
rights groups and international organizations have documented ongoing
harassment, land seizures, and forced displacement of Palestinians –
especially in Area C of the West Bank, where Israel retains full civil
and military authority.