Israeli West Bank settler tells BBC attacks on Palestinians are justified as revenge
Settler violence against Palestinians is on the rise in the West Bank, as settlements and outposts expand.
In the occupied West Bank, the Israeli settler outpost of Havat Gilad, situated on several hilltops, is visible from neighboring Palestinian villages. A wave of settler attacks on Palestinian villages erupted last weekend following the killing of an Israeli security guard from Havat Gilad during a confrontation in the village of Tal.
The death toll includes four Palestinians and an Israeli soldier. Yehuda Shimon, a lawyer representing Israelis arrested for violence against Palestinians, spoke to the BBC, stating that the attacks on Palestinian villages were justified as revenge for the security guard's death. He claimed that one Jewish life equates to millions of Palestinian lives and that God chose them.
This extreme viewpoint is prevalent among settlers in unauthorised outposts like Havat Gilad, who perceive the West Bank as a gift from God to the Jewish people. Israel's official settlements and unauthorised outposts are illegal under international law. Despite the government's efforts to legalise Havat Gilad, it remains surrounded by privately owned Palestinian land.
Shimon criticised international law and accused the Israeli government and army of being insufficient in their response to Palestinian violence against settlers. He also blamed Palestinians for continuing the cycle of violence, stating that Israel's military continues to restrict the Palestinians' freedom of movement.
Written by urgent.news from BBC World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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