Should the international community sanction Israel over settler violence in West Bank?

Condemning the people carrying out these attacks is mere lip service when they know they have the full weight of the military, police, government and him himself supporting their actions.

Headed by Itamar Ben-Gvir, this ministry has overseen the wide-scale distribution of over 120,000 firearms and assault rifles (such as US-made M16s), alongside pistols and drones, to settlers and residents in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.

You can't give them guns then condemn them for using them .

Netanyahu does not want to do either of those things, although arguably for different reasons. The only way that all the horrific violence being carried out by various groups of Israelis is if the Western countries actually do something. This isn't going to happen.

@Squeezingwildoranges ,

‘And you really believe he opposes the violence? His condemnations are empty words for the international cameras. Perhaps you didn't hear about the old Palestinian who got shot in the leg for trying to stop settlers/terrorists from stealing his olive grove only for the IDF to arrest and fine him and his son. No consequences for the terrorists.’

I tend to agree here. He says one thing in Hebrew to a domestic audience, especially away from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and another to the English language press.

In addition , he neither muzzles nor sacks the open racists in his government.

The other thing I don’t understand is why the IDF are doing the policing. The military hate policing and aren’t trained for it. They need a proper police force to enforce the law without fear or favour.

And you really believe he opposes the violence? His condemnations are empty words for the international cameras. Perhaps you didn't hear about the old Palestinian who got shot in the leg for trying to stop settlers/terrorists from stealing his olive grove only for the IDF to arrest and fine him and his son. No consequences for the terrorists.

Both.

He is in favour of settlements in the West Bank and yes, thanked settler leaders a few days ago.

However, he spoke against the "criminal acts of violence” carried out by settlers in two Palestinian West Bank villages yesterday.

Agree @Newbutoldfather we need to wait and see how many of the rioters end up in jail, if none then it's just empty words.

I would love to see Ben G’vir and Smotrich gone too (who wouldn't?) and the voters in Israel need to make sure this happens in the October elections. They are a complete liability to any political party.

I posted earlier about a speech Netanyahu gave a few days ago to the settlers where he thanked them so which is it. Is he condemning them or is he thanking them.

@Twiglets1 ,

‘NBC ("because they were American" ) but also - as your source says - other incidents across the area on Saturday.

The Jerusalem Post reports that Netanyahu condemned violence committed by dozens of settler rioters who gathered on the outskirts of the village of Kusra in the West Bank on Saturday, igniting violent clashes with the local residents.
“I strongly condemn the criminal acts of violence committed in the villages of Kusra and Jalud by a handful of rioters who violate the law, cause enormous injustice to the law-abiding settler public, hinder the IDF in fulfilling its missions, and harm Israel’s standing in the world,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
Netanyahu added that security forces had ended the incident “in a short time” and confiscated three vehicles.
The IDF, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), and the police are conducting an investigation, Netanyahu said, adding that he expected the rioters to be arrested and brought to justice.’

It’s great to see this BUT the problem is anecdote isn’t data. Let’s see how many of the rioters end up with one day in jail.

And the statistics of dispossessed Palestinians vs any settlers receiving any consequences speak for themselves.

Hopefully, Israel is waking up to the international disgust over settler violence and is going to start taking it seriously.

But, for me to believe a word of it, I need to see Ben G’vir and Smotrich gone and Netanyahu publicly disavowing their statements.

It is totally performative. If Burnham really wanted to do something all the groups and their members like Nachala, Yesha council, Amana, The Hilltop Youth and Lehava should be proscribed as terrorist organisations. Not just by the UK government, the UN should proscribe them too. I also think Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit should be included in that proscription along with their leaders Smotrich and Ben Gvir.

Agree that Netanyahu referring to a "handful of rioters" is minimising.

However, he was not just condemning that attack on a Palestinian woman and NBC ("because they were American" ) but also - as your source says - other incidents across the area on Saturday.

The Jerusalem Post reports that Netanyahu condemned violence committed by dozens of settler rioters who gathered on the outskirts of the village of Kusra in the West Bank on Saturday, igniting violent clashes with the local residents.

“I strongly condemn the criminal acts of violence committed in the villages of Kusra and Jalud by a handful of rioters who violate the law, cause enormous injustice to the law-abiding settler public, hinder the IDF in fulfilling its missions, and harm Israel’s standing in the world,” Netanyahu said in a statement.

Netanyahu added that security forces had ended the incident “in a short time” and confiscated three vehicles.

The IDF, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), and the police are conducting an investigation, Netanyahu said, adding that he expected the rioters to be arrested and brought to justice.

www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-906950

https://www.nbcnews.com/world/middle-east/palestinian-nbc-news-team-attacked-masked-israeli-settlers-rcna595024
NBC crew attacked by the terrorists. Note after last week encouraging and praising the illegal settlements Netanyahu now condemns "the handful of rioters" .(Nice bit of minimisation) because they were American.

Your post was the one that got deleted so presumably that was an actual personal attack not just a comment on someone’s algorithms.

Reveals just how endemic land theft has become in the state of Israel.
I welcome the news that Burnham is planning to sanction business from the illegal settlements - it’s at least a performative step in the right direction and better than nothing, but doesn’t this just prove that no one really cares? They don’t care because they know it won’t touch them. The only thing that will make a difference is the implementation (and not the threat as it’s too late for that) of full sanctions.

I didn't attack you personally, I simply questioned your choice to post a link to an unbelievably vile youtube channel. You're the one who seems to be going on the attack.

@rainingsnoring ,

I agree with you about people picking up on petty arguments and trying to win semantic battles, rather than focusing on the big picture. However, I would only open links from reliable sources, for both safety and reliability. I don’t think that is quite the same.

I don’t think Netanyahu is meaningfully trying to control media output. What he does control though is access. I am not saying it is good, but I do think that it is less bad.

Unlike dictators in Iran and Russia, say, Netanyahu is not that popular and risks losing the election. That is a symptom of an effectively functioning media.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-urges-ben-gvir-smotrich-to-unite-as-poll-shows-winters-new-party-surging/amp/

https://en.idi.org.il/tags-en/1465

You just don’t get reporting like that in Iran or open demonstrations tolerated (as we have seen).

If you went to Tel Avov now, you could sit around a dinner table and openly put forward your views, and many would agree with you, especially about settler violence. That is why, although I am scared for Israel’s future, I am still hopeful that, like SA, they can change and integrate into the western community. It is far from guaranteed, but it is definitely possible.

Fair enough. I should have checked the source better.
I really don't think that was AI though. Do you? I'm not accusing you of this but I do think some people are so desperate to pick up on minor things, accuse other posters of this or that simply because they don't agree with their world view, that they keep missing the big picture.

Just last Tuesday Netanyahu gave a speech delivered in Hebrew directly to West Bank settlers. The speech was reported on by Israeli media outlets like Channel 7 and the Times of Israel. In the speech he praised the crowd and told attendees, "You are fulfilling the vision of the Land of Israel, and this is our land. You are preparing the ground for a very large wave of immigration that will come."

Anyone who thinks the IDF will do anything to help the Palestinians when they are attacked by these foul settlers are dreaming. It is not random acts of violence by hooligans. It is state sponsored land theft.

https://www.threads.com/@middleeasteye/video/Dcg7KXijHcY/video-israeli-prime-minister-benjamin-netanyahu-vowed-to-continue-establishing/

I just read the Haaratz article@FloralDeerPattern .

I am truly shocked at the level of brazenness of the security forces. This is lawlessness . Is this the conditions residents of Gaza lived under for years as well.
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-security/2026-08-25/ty-article/.premium/palestinian-woman-detained-after-claiming-settlers-set-fire-to-her-home/000001a0-35fb-d94e-abeb-ffff18530000

Yeah, there were a whole bunch of videos spreading antisemitic conspiracy theories and Holocaust denial. Lots of Islamaphobic stuff too from mt recollection. I mean the channel name was something about new world order FFS.

If that's what is popping up for you your youtube algorithm must be wild.

Neither do I - even so-called reliable sources have to be taken with a large pinch of salt due to the likelihood of bias, but it's good to at least stick to legitimate sources (especially if sharing with others).