Israel can’t afford to cast a blind eye on settler violence
Israel has a little-noticed, rear-flank menace that’s undermining its war against Hamas.Ironically, this threat comes from a segment of Israel’s Jewish population: settlers in the West Bank who commit violent acts, including murder, against Palestinian civilians.
This mostly overlooked problem represents a two-pronged threat. One, it’s a drain on the Israeli Defense Forces, which already is overextended fighting Hamas terrorists in Gaza, contending with militant threats in the West Bank and holding off Hezbollah on the Lebanese border.
Two, this issue imperils global public support for Israel and the country’s moral high ground in its war — critical factors that affect the Israeli military’s ability to operate unhindered against foes.
These extremist settlers may give off the appearance of being Israeli patriots, with their tzitzit fringes, large yarmulkes, Israeli flags and claims to the mantle of Zionism. But make no mistake about it: They are undermining Israel at one of the most vulnerable moments in its history.
Not all Jewish settlers in the West Bank are extremists. Most are ordinary people drawn to the territory for lifestyle reasons, the relative affordability of West Bank real estate or the belief that occupying those hilltops is critical to holding onto the disputed territory considered part of the biblical Land of Israel. For example, in the two largest Jewish settlements — Modiin Illit and Beitar Illit, ultra-Orthodox cities that are home to 30% of all Jewish settlers — less than 5% of voters cast ballots for Israel’s far-right parties in the last election.
We need your help to stay independent
Most settlers do not rampage through Palestinian towns and villages torching homes and cars, uprooting olive trees, and shooting people.
But some do, and they’ve stepped up their violence against Palestinians since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks. On October 11, settlers entered the Palestinian village of Qusra, near Nablus, attacked a home and killed three Palestinians.
