JABAR EKSPRES – Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki has condemned the recent attacks by Jewish settlers in occupied West Bank cities, calling them an act of organized terrorism perpetrated by Israel.

Al-Maliki also accused the Israeli army of protecting the settlers.

“The army is protecting settlers who are accused of terror, spreading fear, murder and destruction on Palestinian land,” al-Maliki said in an interview with Anadolu.

He said the aim of attacks by Jewish settlers was to expel Palestinians from their land to expand illegal settlement projects.

Frustrated with the international community’s approach, al-Maliki said that diplomats had made statements, but they were not enough.

“We expect countries that oppose the occupation to cut ties with Israel, apply sanctions, and recognize all settlers as illegal terrorists,” he said.

Al-Maliki also called on the international community – particularly the International Criminal Court and competent institutions – to play a role in preventing settler attacks.

“Palestine is working hard to report statements by Israeli government officials and settler attacks to the International Criminal Court, to expedite official investigations into Israeli terrorist crimes,” he said.

He noted that some Israeli officials describe organized attacks by settlers in the West Bank as nationalist terrorism.

“The purpose of this statement may be to protect Israeli institutions in the eyes of international law and the international community, to show that there is a difference between terrorist acts committed by settlers and state institutions,” al-Maliki said.

“Palestinians, however, know that terrorism exists, and not only from settlers, but also from the state,” he said, adding.

Some 700,000 Israeli settlers are estimated to live in 164 settlements and 116 outposts in the occupied West Bank.

Under international law, all Jewish settlements in the occupied territories are considered illegal.