Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to take action against a violent “handful of extremists” among Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, following clashes and another attack on Monday.
On Monday evening, homes and vehicles in a Palestinian village were set on fire, just hours after members of the so-called Hilltop Youth clashed with security forces who were dismantling an illegal settler outpost.
Violence in the West Bank has surged since the Hamas attack on Israel triggered the Gaza war in October 2023.
In recent weeks, attacks attributed to Israeli settlers—particularly those living in outposts—have increased, targeting Palestinians and sometimes even Israeli soldiers.
“I view with great severity the violent riots and the attempt by a handful of extremists to take the law into their own hands,” Netanyahu said, calling the perpetrators “a group that does not represent” settlers in the Palestinian territories.
He added, “I call on law enforcement authorities to deal with the rioters to the fullest extent of the law.
I intend to address this personally and convene the relevant ministers as soon as possible to confront this serious issue.”
Earlier on Monday, Israeli security forces deployed hundreds of personnel to evacuate and demolish the illegal Tzur Misgavi outpost in the Gush Etzion area, near the Palestinian town of Sair.
Security forces fired tear gas and stun grenades during clashes with extremist settlers, who were trying to evict Palestinian residents and establish settlements without government approval.
Some demonstrators climbed onto a digger and stood atop structures as bulldozers demolished them.
At least 10 prefabricated homes were destroyed, leaving women with young children sitting amid the rubble.
Village attacked
Hours later, the Israeli military said it had been dispatched alongside police to the nearby Palestinian village of Jab'a, around 30 kilometres southwest of Jerusalem, following reports of "dozens of Israeli civilians who set fire to and vandalised homes and vehicles".
"Israeli security forces at the scene are conducting searches to locate involved individuals. The incident is still ongoing," it said in a statement.
"These violent incidents divert the attention of commanders and soldiers from their primary mission of defence and counter-terrorism."
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said: "The riot of the Hilltop Youth in the village of Jab'a is another stage in the escalating violence."
The United Nations said October had been the worst month for West Bank settler violence since it began recording incidents in 2006, with 264 attacks that caused casualties or property damage.
Almost none of the perpetrators have been held to account by the Israeli authorities.
Shaming Judaism
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said the "Jewish rioters" in the West Bank were harming Israel, "shaming Judaism and causing damage to the settlement enterprise".
Defence Minister Israel Katz said the government would "continue to develop and grow settlements" while upholding the law "and the stability of the region, as he condemned the "criminal anarchists".
Israel's military chief Eyal Zamir last week pledged to halt settler violence in the West Bank, following a wave of attacks targeting Palestinians.
Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967, and more than 500,000 Israelis now live there in settlements, alongside some three million Palestinians.
While all Israeli settlements in the Palestinian territory are illegal under international law, outposts are also prohibited under Israeli law.
However, many end up being legalised by the Israeli authorities.
At least 1,006 Palestinians, including militants, have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli forces or settlers since the Gaza war started, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
During the same period, 43 Israelis, including soldiers, have been killed in Palestinian attacks in the West Bank, according to official Israeli figures.
