The spree of vandalism and arson by hundreds of settlers in several villages and towns in the occupied West Bank last month followed the June 20 killing of four Israelis by Hamas gunmen. Their goal was "to arouse fear or shock in the community through a grave blow to the sacrosanct," it said. The charges - including disorderly conduct, insulting religion, aggravated arson and aggravated assault - normally carry maximum prison terms ranging between three and 20 years. The Palestinian Foreign Ministry described the settler rampages as "state-sponsored terrorism". Israel's hard-right government includes ministers who chafe at attributing the term terrorism to settlers.

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Persons: Dan Williams, Nick Macfie, Conor Humphries Organizations: West Bank, Palestinian Foreign Ministry, Thomson Locations: Orif, Umm Safa