Palestinians in occupied West Bank face growing violence from Israeli settlers

## Summary
The U.N. and international groups report that, as Israel and the U.S. are waging war in Iran, there's also been a surge of violence in the West Bank, mostly by Israeli settlers against Palestinians there. Nick Schifrin recently visited Mukhmas in the occupied West Bank to understand the nature of that violence and its impact on Palestinian families. Nick Schifrin: The U.N. and international human rights organizations say settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank has been rising. Nick Schifrin: On FOX News late last year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu argued that Palestinians attacked Israelis living in the occupied West Bank, but he also vowed to reduce settler crime.

## Article Content
Human rights groups say a new Israeli law that expands the death penalty for killings classified as terrorism is expected to apply exclusively to Palestinian prisoners in the occupied West Bank. As Israel and the U.S. wage war in Iran, there has been a surge of violence there, mostly by Israeli settlers against Palestinians. Nick Schifrin visited to understand its impact on Palestinian families.

Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors.

Amna Nawaz:

This week, Palestinians protested a new Israeli law that expands the death penalty for killings classified as acts of terrorism. Human rights groups say the law is expected to apply exclusively to Palestinian prisoners in the occupied West Bank.

The U.N. and international groups report that, as Israel and the U.S. are waging war in Iran, there's also been a surge of violence in the West Bank, mostly by Israeli settlers against Palestinians there.

Nick Schifrin recently visited Mukhmas in the occupied West Bank to understand the nature of that violence and its impact on Palestinian families.

Nick Schifrin:

In the hills outside of Jerusalem, a father and uncle walk a painful path. This is the first time that Mohamed Abu Siyam has visited his own son's grave.

Nasrallah Abu Siyam was 19 years old when he was killed six weeks ago. Nasrallah helped build his own grave. It was supposed to be for his grandfather.

Khaled Abu Siyam, Uncle of Nasrallah Abu Siyam: Nasrallah told him: "I wish my day before your day, my grandfather." At the end of the road, he's in it. Too early, man.

Nick Schifrin:

Khaled Abu Siyam is Nasrallah's uncle and is American, like his nephew.

Khaled Abu Siyam:

And we all wish, all wish to use the same grave of Nasrallah. We're proud of you. We're proud of what you have been.

Nick Schifrin:

For all his life, Nasrallah Abu Siyam was an avid horse rider and teacher of his little cousins, encouraging them not to be afraid. He led processions at local weddings. That's him in the gray suit on his horse.

His horse's name is Shams, Arabic for sun, as in the sun that shines. Today, the horse is still waiting for Mohamed's son.

Mohamed Abu Siyam, Father of Nasrallah Abu Siyam (through interpreter): He said: "Shams will stay with me for my whole life," and she remained.

Nick Schifrin:

She still remains without her rider.

This small town is more than 80 percent American. But they say Israel's wars in Iran, Gaza and Lebanon have made them as vulnerable as any Palestinians.

Anwar Mustafa, Friend of Nasrallah Abu Siyam: All people story, you know, every day in a different town. They just don't care.

Nick Schifrin:

Anwar Mustafa (ph) is 57 and also American. He and Nasrallah's other friends visit his grave to support a Palestinian community and family that feels under siege.

Anwar Mustafa:

Every town, they try to kick us out of our towns. They came to kill that day. They came to kill.

Nick Schifrin:

On February 18, residents say these Jewish settlers arrived on the high ground, some of them armed. They stole the Palestinians' livestock, which provides their lively hoods. And down the hill, Palestinians tried to hold their ground, some throwing stones. And, suddenly, one of the Palestinians was shot. Nasrallah tried to help.

Khaled Abu Siyam:

That's in his blood to help people. So he couldn't not to get involved. And him and a couple of guys trying to help this guy on the floor. They tried just to take him away, just to save him. And all of them get shot.

Nick Schifrin:

In the Abu Siyam family home, there is great grief. They believe Nasrallah could have been saved if not for Israeli military checkpoints in the occupied West Bank.

Khaled Abu Siyam:

He lost too much blood on the way. He was helpful until the last minute in his life. We're never going to forget. He tried to help people. Now he left us.

Nick Schifrin:

Mukhmas' population is about 13,000. Traditionally, many residents come here from the U.S. for the summer, but they're increasingly staying here year-round to help protect the village.

So, can you tell us what we're looking at up there?

On the edge of town, Mohamed Abu Siyam shows me the Israeli outpost where he believes his son's killers still live. The makeshift houses are illegal under Israeli and international law, but he says they have been there for five years.

Mohamed Abu Siyam (through interpreter):

The first thing they did when they came is to build a house or two. The army demolished the two houses. The next day they built three and the army demolished the three. But in around one year, they built 30 houses. After that, the army didn't care.

Nick Schifrin:

In a statement provided to "PBS News Hour," the Israeli Defense Forces says its mission is to safeguard the security of all residents in the area. And on the day Nasrallah was killed, life-endangering stone throwing occurred, and Israeli forces acted to disperse the disturbance without

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
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### Areas for Consideration
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### Implications
- Nick Schifrin visited to understand its impact on Palestinian families.
- They may contain errors.
- Nick Schifrin recently visited Mukhmas in the occupied West Bank to understand the nature of that violence and its impact on Palestinian families.
- Mohamed Abu Siyam, Father of Nasrallah Abu Siyam (through interpreter): He said: "Shams will stay with me for my whole life," and she remained.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers nick, schifrin, abu topics. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 1790.