18 Dec 2021; MEMO: The Palestinian secular group Fatah on Friday called on Palestinians to unite and defend their land, homes and properties against the terrorism of the Israeli occupation army and settlers.
Wafa News Agency reported Fatah Spokesperson Osama Al-Qawasmi stating: "Israel and its settlers have escalated aggression and terrorism against Palestinians."
The member of Fatah's Revolutionary Council described the settlers as "Israel's tools of terror", stressing that Palestinians: "Must defend their land and holy places, particularly Al-Aqsa Mosque."
Al-Qawasmi held the Israeli government fully responsible: "For the dangerous ongoing escalation carried out by the Israeli Jewish settlers against everything that is Palestinian."
On Wednesday, The Times of Israel reported Israeli security officials stating that this year has seen a drastic spike in violence by Jewish extremists in the West Bank.
The Israeli daily added: "In 2020, the Shin Bet registered 272 violent incidents in the disputed (occupied) territory; so far in 2021, the domestic security agency has recorded 397, with two weeks still to go before the year's end."
