Arson in Nablus: Settler Violence, State Complicity, and the Logic of Dispossession
Here's what they buried in paragraph 15: The arson attack on the Al-Iman Mosque near Nablus, where Israeli settlers torched prayer rugs and damaged property, is not merely random vandalism. It is an intentional act to terrorize Palestinian communities and accelerate land seizures. Such incidents, often accompanied by violence against farmers and destruction of olive groves, serve a clear economic
and political agenda. This campaign of targeted destruction is intrinsically linked to the financial infrastructure supporting Israeli settlements. Research by organizations like Kerem Navot details how global financial institutions, including some European and American banks, inadvertently or explicitly facilitate these settlements. For example, in 2022, a report found that some 70 European
financial institutions had direct or indirect business relationships with Israeli settlements, providing loans and investments that fuel their expansion. This direct financing underpins the settler movement, allowing it to acquire resources and maintain pressure on Palestinian residents. The pattern of settler violence, from burning mosques to demolishing homes, constitutes a state-sanctioned
policy by omission, if not direct command. The Israeli military and police frequently stand by or intervene minimally during settler attacks, effectively greenlighting these aggressions. This recalls the 1980 attack on the Hebron municipality, where settler militants, including members of the Gush Emunim underground, bombed the building killing three and injuring over two dozen Palestinians in