Netanyahu's rhetoric on settler violence doesn't match Israeli government action
If the Israeli prime minister sees settler violence as a "grave injustice", why can't one of the most powerful militaries in the world stop it from happening? The answer, as it often does, comes down to politics.
Over the weekend, Israeli settlers once again damaged property and attacked Palestinians and foreign journalists in West Bank towns and villages. The most notable incident involved masked settlers targeting the American network NBC in the town of Jalud, which had been under siege by youths from nearby settlements. This prompted condemnation from senior Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who called them "a handful of rioters" and said they violated the law, harmed the IDF, and damaged Israel's global reputation.
However, these remarks are often seen as an attempt to distance the government from the actions of a small group of extremists, who officials claim do not represent the broader settler community.
Critics argue that one of the world's most powerful militaries cannot stop such attacks, citing the recent military operation in Qusra, about 50 kilometers north of Jerusalem. Settlers had besieged homes, cutting power and water supplies, and demanding intervention from the U.S. embassy. The U.S. ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, branded the attackers "Israeli terrorists."
Despite this, the situation has persisted, with settlers continuing to harass and attack Palestinians in the area, even though it has been declared a military zone. When the operation began, just one person was detained, and no one has been arrested since.
The response to deadly violence against Palestinians, such as the shooting in the village of Tell, was far harsher. Israeli forces arrested over 130 Palestinians in response to the incident, demonstrating a stark contrast in treatment between settlers and Palestinians. The issue of Israeli settlements in the West Bank remains deeply political, as these settlements are considered illegal under international law.
However, the Israeli government denies their illegality and continues to support them. Many Israeli political leaders, despite their rhetoric, are reluctant to show weakness on this issue ahead of the October 27 election. While some suggest the military may hand over security control to the police, this move would require formal annexation of territory, which Israel has not formally declared.
International sanctions against key figures like Defense Minister Israel Katz have further limited the government's ability to address the issue effectively.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
