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Violence in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank)
- The past few weeks have seen widespread condemnation by Israeli leaders, across the political spectrum, of a spike in alleged settler attacks in the West Bank, coinciding with the olive harvest season—a period historically prone to friction. Allegations against groups of settlers include arson, beatings, vandalism, and assaults on Palestinian civilians and property.
- On November 11, a group of masked men attacked Palestinian factories and farmland near Tulkarm, torching vehicles and clashing with IDF soldiers. Four Israeli suspects were detained.
- On November 13, settlers are alleged to have torched the Hajja Hamida Mosque in Deir Istiya, burned Qurans, and scrawled racist graffiti.
- On November 20, a group is said to have set fire to a scrap yard in Huwara, destroying around 150 out-of-commission cars.
- Despite criticism of weak law enforcement by police and the IDF, a broad spectrum of senior Israeli leadership have issued strong condemnations of these acts in recent days:
- President Isaac Herzog called the attacks “shocking and serious” and said they “cross a red line,” urging authorities to “act decisively to eradicate the phenomenon”.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged “forceful action against riots against Palestinians and IDF soldiers,” calling the attackers “a handful of extremists” who do not represent the settler community.
- IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said, “We will not tolerate the phenomena of a minority of criminals who tarnish a law-abiding public.” He warned that such violence diverts military resources from core missions.
- Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, the head of the IDF’s Central Command (responsible for the region where attacks have taken place), described perpetrators as an “anarchist fringe” whose actions are “unacceptable and extremely serious.”
- Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar condemned the rioters for “harming the State of Israel, disgracing Judaism, and damaging the settlement project.”
- In addition, the leadership of the settler movement insists that the acts are being carried out by a small fringe, many of whom do not even live in settlements, and strongly says that those committing the illegal acts do not act in the name of the Jewish communities living “over the Green Line.” Yesha Council Chairman Yisrael Ganz denounced the violence, labeling perpetrators as “a small band of rioters” and “extreme anarchists” who undermine the legitimacy of the settlement movement.
- Earlier in the week, Prime Minister Netanyahu convened a meeting with senior security officials to address the surge in violence. During the session, the heads of the IDF, Shin Bet, and Israel Police recommended creating a specialized investigative unit dedicated to tackling these incidents. Additional proposals included deploying more forces to act as buffers between settlements and nearby Arab villages; to monitor activity around unauthorized outposts to help prevent attacks; issuing restraining orders against settlers involved in violent acts; and revoking gun licenses for individuals implicated in these attacks.
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