The black facades and burnt-out cars give Huwara a macabre appearance. The Palestinian village is licking its wounds after an unprecedented act of revenge by Jewish settlers. The inhabitants of the village think that things will never get better: “the third intifada is coming.”
Palestinians try to spray the soot off the paving stones with a water hose. They are being watched by Israeli soldiers, who are lined up in pairs every ten meters in the village of Huwara near Nablus. With the gun at the ready.
Huwara was the scene of an unprecedented attack by hundreds of settlers this week. Revenge for an attack that killed two Jewish brothers earlier that day. The Jewish extremists set fire to dozens of houses and cars. A Palestinian, just back from rescue work in Turkey, was shot dead. One of Israel’s top generals used a loaded term to describe the hour-long orgy of violence: pogrom.
However, his men did not intervene, although there is an army base around the corner. The settlers even stopped halfway for a prayer before continuing their attack. Morally supported by their allies in the Israeli government.
Burnt down
A member of parliament stood at the entrance to Huwara and posted a photo on Twitter, expressing her support for the violent action, which was in full swing at the time. Another MP, also from a government party: “A closed and burnt down Huwara, I want to see that.”
The horrific events show the true face of part of the Israeli government. Treasury Secretary Bezalel Smotrich made no bones about it. He does not want the citizens, but the government itself to ‘wipe out’ Huwara. It came to him on a serious scab by the United States.
Weapons
The inhabitants of the village themselves see the violence as a turning point. “The young men here just wanted to live a quiet life until today and earn money to support their families,” says Firas Demidi. “Now they are going to take up arms. I do not doubt that. If they do not, they will be killed in their homes. That third intifada is coming.”
It is a sentiment more widely shared in the West Bank, where the situation is intensely tense.
Mohammed had to flee to his shop that day, where he hid among the smoking materials for hours. “Something has snapped in Nablus, but also elsewhere. The future looks very bleak.” He fears not only violence between Israel and the Palestinians, but also between Palestinians themselves. “Palestinian agents opened fire here just outside the city on youths who pelted settlers with stones. That just can not be. Those agents should help.”
More than 60 Palestinians have been killed in two months, mostly in armed confrontations with the Israeli army. Fourteen Israelis were killed in attacks. The deadly military operations and terrorist attacks follow each other in quick succession.
Israel and the Palestinians have seen waves of violence before, but this one is different. And more dangerous. Palestinian terror is spearheaded by militant youth in cities such as Jenin and Nablus, where the Palestinian Authority has little say. The settlers feel empowered by far-right ministers and have stepped up their attacks against the Palestinians. With Huwara as the provisional low point.
Stones
Demidi’s mother, Nowal, was home alone when suddenly the stones flew in. Settlers set fire to her front door, engulfing the entire apartment in smoke. 75-year-old Demidi, struggling with a heart condition, fled to an adjacent roof. “I thought I would choke. It seemed as if I had ended up in the war in Ukraine.” She remained on the roof for more than 24 hours out of fear. Her daughter now wants her to move to Ramallah quickly. She refuses. This has been my home for fifty years. Here I will also die.”
Son Firas: “There were always confrontations with the settlers, but they were relatively minor. Throwing stones, taunting. They just came to buy their fruit and vegetables from me the next day. Now they’ve tried to burn us alive. There is no turning back.”