The Israel Defense Forces are launching an investigation into recurring incidents of settler mob violence in the West Bank after yet another arson attack.
Israeli settlers stormed the Palestinian village of Jaba, near Bethlehem in the West Bank, on Monday evening. The mob reportedly torched buildings and vehicles in the attack, which followed an IDF-led demolition of an illegal Israeli outpost near the settlement of Efrat on the same day.
“I view the violent riots and the attempt to take the law into one’s own hands by a small extremist group — which does not represent the settlers in Judea and Samaria [a term used by some Israelis to refer to the West Bank] — with utmost severity,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said of the incident on Monday evening.
The prime minister continued: “I intend to address this personally and convene the relevant ministers as soon as possible in order to respond to this serious phenomenon.”
Multiple members of the Israeli Border Police were injured in clashes with the extremists, including one officer who was hit in the head with a rock.
Netanyahu offered his “support for the IDF and the security forces,” who he said will “continue to act firmly and without fear to maintain order.”
Israeli leaders have sought to characterize the gangs of settlers instigating these attacks as small, anarchist extremists operating outside mainstream Israeli society. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar weighed in on the situation, calling the mob violence spike a “disgrace” to Israel and the religion of Judaism.
“The IDF, Shin Bet, and the Israeli Police must act decisively and firmly to stop this rampage, which is also directed at our soldiers and police officers,” Sa’ar said.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the surge of settler violence against Palestinian communities last week after a similar incident of arson. The mob of settlers descended upon an industrial area of the town of Beit Lid on Tuesday, setting fire to vehicles, factories, and farmland, as well as attacking residents.
ISRAELI PRESIDENT CONDEMNS SETTLER MOB THAT BURNED PALESTINIAN FACTORIES AND VEHICLES
“The harsh events that took place this evening in the Shomron by a handful of violent and dangerous individuals are shocking and serious,” Herzog said. “Such violence against civilians and against IDF soldiers crosses a red line and I condemn it severely.”
Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, Central Command chief, blamed the attack on “anarchist fringe youth” who “must be dealt with firmly.” The IDF arrested four rioters, but three suspects in last week’s confrontation have already been released from custody without charges.