RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — Militant Israeli settlers in the West Bank have stepped up attacks on Palestinians in recent years, human rights groups and U.N. agencies said Wednesday, claiming a lack of Israeli law enforcement has created a climate of impunity.

The Israeli government has not shown the political will to protect Palestinian civilians and has failed to commit sufficient resources to the job, said Jessica Montell of the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem.