RAMALLAH, Muharram 24, 1433, Dec 19, 2011, SPA - Jewish settlers from Beit El settlement north of Al-Quds Monday set fire to five Palestinian-owned cars in Beitin, a village northeast of Ramallah, according to a local official. Head of the village council, Diyab Yassin, told Palestine News and Information Agency "WAFA" that dozens of settlers, under the protection of the Israeli army, raided the village at dawn and set fire to five parked cars on the main road, completely destroying them. The settlers then fled the scene. Israeli soldiers did not attempt to prevent the settlers from attacking the village and rather, inspected it to make sure all settlers evicted it, added Yassin. He said the fire spread to a residential quarter adjacent to the main street, burning and damaging nearby buildings’ fronts and windows. Yassin indicated that residents of Beitin and neighboring villages that are constantly being targeted by settlers intend to form popular protection committees, to protect the villages and warn residents from attacks. --SPA 14:01 LOCAL TIME 11:01 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/953920