West Bank village fortifies school amid escalating settler violence

To address these concerns, teachers at the public secondary school have implemented security measures and provided tours of the fortified facilities. These include metal fences, a reinforced gate, and a new wall designed to shield classrooms from a hilltop where a settler previously shot and killed two people.

Al-Mughayyir, a village of approximately 3,000 people located northeast of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, is facing increasing pressure from Israeli settlers. Residents report frequent raids involving assaults on villagers, damage to homes, and theft of livestock. Israeli military checkpoints further restrict movement, often blocking access for hours.

The school’s isolated location makes it particularly vulnerable, with settlers frequently staging attacks in the vicinity, often under the observation of Israeli soldiers. A single soldier controls access to the village, deciding who can enter or leave.

Local leaders say the escalating violence is part of a deliberate campaign to displace Palestinians from their land, a tactic previously used against smaller communities. Ameen Abu Alia, the town’s 54-year-old mayor, stated, “What’s happening in al-Mughayyir is the beginning of this project,” referencing similar tactics used in the Jordan Valley area to displace farming communities.

The number of settler outposts near the town has rapidly increased, from one in 2023 to 12 currently. Settlers regularly block roads, harass residents, and steal livestock, leading to confrontations and arrests.

In 2024, a schoolteacher, 37-year-old Waheed Abu Naim, narrowly escaped death when a settler fired a pistol at him while he was defending a home under attack.

The situation in al-Mughayyir mirrors a pattern seen previously in the West Bank, where small settler outposts have targeted Bedouin communities in the Jordan Valley, ultimately forcing residents to leave. In Ras ‘Ein al-‘Auja, settlers drove out the last inhabitants in January.

Despite being illegal under international law, the Israeli government has taken limited action to curb settler violence, with extremist ministers even reportedly equipping settlers with weapons and vehicles.

Residents describe a concerning level of cooperation between Israeli soldiers and settlers, with soldiers often providing protection for settlers. In September, two teenagers, 19-year-old Omar al-Nassan and 16-year-old Khalil Abu Alia, were killed while attempting to prevent settlers from stealing sheep.

The Israeli military claims it intervened to secure livestock and retrieve them from villagers who threw stones.

The olive harvest, a vital source of income, is also at risk, with villagers hesitant to work their groves due to settler violence. Yesh Din, an Israeli rights group, reports over 170 settler attacks during the harvest season.

The military has imposed restrictions on olive harvesting, requiring prior approval and frequently closing the village’s only access road, disrupting livelihoods and forcing some families to leave.

At the secondary school, teachers have developed emergency plans and incorporated conflict avoidance lessons into the curriculum. Bassam Abu Assaf, the 54-year-old principal, emphasized, “The school’s aim is that when the children enter the school, and when they go home, they are protected.”