Jewish extremists in Hebron attempt to attack Israeli commander

Several dozen Jewish extremists in Hebron, participating in an annual pilgrimage, attempted to attack Major General Avi Bluth, the head of the IDF Central Command.

The military reported that Bluth was in the city to secure the gathering. As the extremists chased Bluth and his soldiers, they called the IDF commander a "traitor." The Central Command chief often faces tension with settler extremists due to the IDF's role in managing security in the West Bank, Caliber.Az reports citing the Israeli media.

The suspects tried to block an exit necessary for the military’s operational activities but were arrested by police. No injuries were reported. After the arrests, the army dispersed the group of rioters, condemning the violence.

Hebron annually hosts tens of thousands of Jewish worshippers who visit to mark the Torah reading about Abraham’s purchase of the site for the Tomb of the Patriarchs. However, this event has been marred by settler violence, with attacks on Palestinians becoming increasingly common.

The attempted attack on Bluth came on the same day that Defense Minister Israel Katz announced an end to administrative detention orders for West Bank settlers. This policy, which had allowed Israel to hold suspects without charges, will now only be used against Palestinian terror suspects. The Shin Bet, Israel’s security service, had warned against this change, suggesting it could endanger state security in cases where suspects are believed to pose a threat.

Settler violence has surged since the October 7 Hamas attacks, with little accountability for Jewish perpetrators. Rights groups note that charges against settlers involved in such attacks are often dropped. Bluth, who took command in June, has vowed to confront settler violence, while his successor warned that some settlers were emulating violent tactics.

By Vafa Guliyeva