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Photo:
Illustrative. Israeli settlers shatter Palestinian bus window with ax near Qalqilya on Feb 2. 2016. Photo Credit: Israeli Police spokesperson
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QALQILIYA (Ma'an) -- A Palestinian bus was attacked by Israeli settlers throwing stones on Friday evening while driving near the illegal Immanuel settlement east of Qalqiliya in the northern occupied West Bank.

The driver of the bus Nasir Abu Taha told Ma’an a group of settlers standing on a hill threw rocks at the bus as it passed by, shattering the bus window, and causing panic among children who were riding the bus.

Israeli settlers living illegally in the occupied Palestinian territory frequently carry out attacks on Palestinians and their property, with the UN documenting over 200 such attacks last year.

It was revealed Wednesday that Israel’s security agency uncovered a “Jewish terrorist ring,” which carried out a number of acts of violence targeting Palestinians in the northern occupied West Bank.

At least seven right-wing Israeli extremists were arrested earlier this month after being suspected of belonging to the ring, which committed a number of anti-Palestinian acts, Israeli police announced after an Israeli authorities-issued gag order was lifted on the case.

More than 500,000 Israeli settlers live in settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in contravention of international law.
While settler violence against Palestinians and their property is common, it is rarely prosecuted by Israeli authorities.