Tensions between Israel and Palestine have soared over the last few days, following a series of Israeli military raids in the West Bank and Palestinian terrorist attacks.
Rising Settler Violence
On Sunday, dozens of Israeli settlers vandalised infrastructure, Palestinian homes, and cars in the town of Huwara in the West Bank. The settlers were also accused of shooting, stabbing, and beating Palestinians.
Palestinian media published footage of many burning homes and cars in Huwara. The settlers reportedly shot dead a 37-year-old Palestinian during their violent rampage.
While Israel’s Border Police was deployed to Huwara, and used tear gas to disperse the settlers, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) reported that similar riots had emerged across the West Bank.
Netanyahu’s Remarks
PM Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Israel would not tolerate settler violence targeting innocent people. “There is no place for anarchy, we will not accept anarchy,” he said, adding that Israel “will not accept a reality where people […] set homes on fire, burn cars, intentionally harm innocent people.”
Similarly, President Isaac Herzog condemned the “cruel and violent rampage” by settlers. Herzog said that Israel is a “country of laws and [Israeli principles and foundations] are totally opposed to any attack against innocents.”
After murder of two Israeli settlers in Huwara today, Israel settlers are rampaging through town, burning cars and homes. Huwara, in Area C of occupied West Bank, is a major friction point because settlers must drive through on Road 60 to get to settlements. /1 https://t.co/XJ9FD4cu7x
— Mairav Zonszein מרב זונשיין (@MairavZ) February 26, 2023
Opposition Labour Party leader Merav Michaeli called the settlers “terrorists,” and accused the Netanyahu government of legitimising them. “This cancerous growth that threatens the country must be excised as soon as possible, before it leads us to utter ruin,” she warned.
The incident was also condemned by several Israeli leaders and the international community, including the US, the EU, and the Palestinian Authority.
Rise in Terrorist Attacks
The settler violence in Huwara happened just days after a Palestinian terrorist shot dead two Israelis in the same town. The incident was part of a recent spate of attacks against Israelis.
According to Israeli sources, several attacks against Israeli civilians have taken place since the beginning of the year, most notably the attack on a synagogue in Jerusalem in January, which left seven people dead. It was the deadliest attack in Israel in over a decade. Furthermore, on Monday, an Israeli-American citizen was shot dead by a Palestinian gunman near Jericho in the West Bank.
In fact, 2022 witnessed a rise in Israeli and Palestinian attacks. According to the Israeli government, there were more than 5,000 terrorist incidents in 2022, which resulted in the deaths of 31 people and 415 injuries. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, at least 167 Palestinians were killed last year.