The Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Authority announced on Tuesday that Israeli authorities have approved a plan allowing the establishment of shooting ranges in 31 settlements in the occupied West Bank. The Authority warned in a statement about the risks of expanding firearms training facilities amid escalating settler terrorism against Palestinians.
Plan Details
It stated that Plan No. (200/5) includes 29 settlements, communities, and neighborhoods, in addition to two industrial zones, distributed across the governorates of Ramallah and al-Bireh and Jerusalem in the central West Bank, Nablus in the north, and Jericho and the Jordan Valley in the east. It clarified that the plan paves the way for expanding firearms training facilities and arming individuals in areas witnessing an increase in settler attacks.
Escalation of Attacks
The Authority pointed out that an Israeli government list from 2022 included nine licensed shooting ranges in West Bank settlements, including Ariel, Karni Shomron, Ma'on, and Alon Shvut. It also drew attention to a document published by the economic company affiliated with the Matisyahu Settlement Council in 2024, which included a proposal to operate a shooting range in the settlement of Psagot.
Violence Statistics
According to the Authority, the need for the project is linked to the increase in firearm license requests following the events of October 7, 2023. The Authority reported that 31 Palestinians were killed by settler gunfire since the beginning of this year, while documenting 1,369 attacks carried out by settlers in October last year, compared to 647 attacks in September, an increase of 111.6 percent.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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