Israeli president condemns escalating settler violence against Palestinians

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog and senior military officials condemned recent attacks by Jewish settlers on Palestinians in the West Bank, calling for an end to a surge in settler violence in the occupied territory.

Herzog described the attacks as “shocking and serious,” adding a rare and strong voice to criticism that has been muted among top Israeli officials, POLITICO reports.

“The violence committed by a handful of perpetrators crosses a red line,” he said, emphasizing in a social media post that “all state authorities must act decisively to eradicate the phenomenon.” While largely ceremonial, Herzog’s remarks are intended to serve as a moral compass and unifying force for the nation.

The comments followed attacks on November 12 in the Palestinian villages of Beit Lid and Deir Sharaf, where dozens of masked Israeli settlers set fire to vehicles and property before clashing with soldiers. Israeli army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir reinforced Herzog’s position, stating the military “will not tolerate the phenomena of a minority of criminals who tarnish a law-abiding public.” Zamir stressed that such acts divert military resources from their primary mission.

Major General Avi Bluth, head of the army’s Central Command, added that responding to an “anarchist fringe” requires significant resources that could otherwise bolster security and counterterrorism operations. Four Israelis were arrested, with one minor remaining in custody for six days on charges of arson and assault. Four Palestinians were also wounded. Police said the three released suspects remain under investigation “with the goal of bringing offenders to justice, regardless of their background.”

The violence is part of a broader trend that has intensified since the war in Gaza two years ago, particularly during the Palestinian olive harvest. The UN reported over 260 settler attacks in the West Bank in October alone, the highest monthly figure since it began tracking incidents in 2006.

Palestinian officials accuse Israel of protecting settlers and called for sanctions against groups “that sponsor and support the colonial settlement terrorism project.” Muayyad Shaaban, tracking the attacks, said settlers burned dairy trucks, farmland, and Bedouin tents to drive Palestinians from their land.

In related developments, Israel reopened a northern Gaza crossing after two months, while its military reported killing four armed militants in southern Gaza, including three during tunnel demolition operations.

By Vafa Guliyeva