Accountability Demands Increase After Netanyahu Denounces Settler Violence Against Israeli Army Officers

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vehemently denounced Jewish settlers who attacked senior Israeli military soldiers in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, according to the Reuters story. The commander of the army’s Central Command, Major General Avi Bluth, was one of the targets.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>

On Friday, settlers in Hebron followed Bluth and other officers, blocked their vehicles, and shouted insults, including calling Bluth a “traitor.” The military reported that five people were arrested in connection with the incident. Bluth had been in Hebron for an annual religious event.

On Saturday, additional violence erupted near the West Bank settlement of Itamar. Dozens of settlers, some masked, threw stones at Israeli troops and border police, according to Israeli police.

The West Bank has seen a surge in violence since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on southern Israel, which triggered a war in Gaza and heightened tensions across the region.

Settlers have increasingly targeted Palestinians, pushing for the annexation of the West Bank.

The Israeli army, responsible for protecting Palestinians in the area, has faced criticism for failing to curb settler violence.

In August, Bluth admitted the military had fallen short in safeguarding civilians during a settler rampage in a Palestinian town.

Some settler youth groups reject the authority of the Israeli military, claiming the land as their own.

This has led to confrontations between settlers and soldiers. While settler leaders have condemned the violence, they stress that offenders must be held accountable.

The issue of settlements remains highly contentious. Most nations consider Jewish settlements in the West Bank illegal under international law, while Israel cites historical and religious ties to the land.

Palestinians, however, see the West Bank as a key part of their hopes for an independent state.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>