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

[FloralDeerPattern]

The problem of Israeli terrorism is getting worse and worse. Just over the past few weeks amongst other things Israeli terrorists have killed multiple people, commited sexual assault, beaten and threatened to rape young Palestinian girls, continually attacked the residents and property of the only remaining fully Christian town in the West Bank, stolen 100s of sheep from the Bedouin community, beaten activists who are there to provide a protective presence to Palestinians, set fire to property.

Palestinians don't have the right to defend themselves from this violent, rapidly escalating Israeli terrorism. They can't arrest and detain the Israeli terrorists. They are sitting ducks with no means of protecting themselves from beatings and sexual violence. Is it time that the international community steps in and sanctions Israel until they can control their obvious terrorism problem? What else can be done to try and protect innocent people from this escalating Israeli violence?

@Ipsevenenabibas ,

‘I think you’re conflating “Israel isn’t economically indispensable” with “the relationship isn’t in Britain’s national interest”. I wasn’t arguing that Britain needs Israel for trade. The value of the relationship is much broader than the $6bn in bilateral trade — intelligence, defence and security cooperation, diplomatic influence, technology and our ability to engage directly with a significant regional power all matter‘

Basically, I agree. I do think Israel has value to us as a strategic ally.

‘And I don’t think recognising those interests requires pretending Netanyahu’s government is behaving acceptably. Quite the opposite: if we think Israeli actions are damaging to British interests or violating principles Britain is committed to defending, then we should say so and use whatever leverage we have.’

Isn’t Milliband’s speech in parliament, and these sanctions-lite doing just that?

‘Where I’m less convinced is the idea that sanctions are inherently the right measure of that balance. If the objective is actually to influence Israeli behaviour, rather than simply demonstrate disapproval, then preserving a relationship in which Britain retains access and influence may be more useful than progressively damaging it.’

These aren’t even proper sanctions, they are just making a clear point that Israel has crossed a line. They are also not being implemented for 6-9 months, giving Israel plenty of chance to change tack. I imagine we have diplomatically been trying to influence Israel for a long time without success before we did this too.

I do think that realpolitik is that trade off. But Trump would have to do a hell of a lot for us to refuse to trade with the U.S, for instance, whereas it is fairly easy to sanction dirt poor countries we hardly trade with.

I feel you kind of are arguing for being soft on Israel! At what point would you suggest that firmer action other than a nice chat is required?

I don't think I'm arguing for being soft on Israel. I think the difference between us is probably more where we sit on the spectrum in terms of being more sympathetic to Israel or more sympathetic to Palestine.

I'm not saying there shouldn't be consequences when Israel crosses a serious line. There absolutely can be a point where stronger action is justified. I just have a higher threshold for measures that could damage an important relationship, because I put more weight on the strategic value of that relationship than you apparently do.

And I think that's probably the fundamental difference here. You see these measures as a fairly proportionate way of making clear that Israel has crossed a line; I'm more cautious about escalating pressure on a country that I regard as an important British ally, particularly if we're not confident that the measures will actually change its behaviour.

That isn't the same as giving Israel a free pass or saying “lets just have a nice chat”. It's a difference in where we draw the line.

@Ipsevenenabibas ,

I think that sometimes it is hard to know what precisely is going on in Israel, but I generally think that is Israel’s fault in not allowIng journalists proper access. Which makes me fear that it is really quite bad.

Re settler violence, where would your line be for us to take tougher action?

I agree that lack of access makes it harder to know exactly what is happening, although I’m wary of assuming that necessarily means the worst is happening.

I think before I give you my precise threshold, it would be useful for you to say clearly where yours is. You’re asking where my line is for tougher action, but I’m not entirely sure what you think the appropriate level of action is now, or what would make you go further.

I think that Israel are way past my line, which is something I never imagined would happen having grown up with a loyalty to Israel and having had relatives living there.

But I think the evidence for ethnic cleansing is now overwhelming in the West Bank and the Palestinians in Gaza are now compressed into 1/3 of the area.

Israel has also become clearly racist with people like Ben G’vir and Smotrich openly advocating their divine right to the land and for ethnic cleansing. These are ministers, not random MPs, and they don’t get sacked for it.

I am one of those liberal Jews for whom ‘never again’ is about othering and then persecuting other races/ethnicities, not just Jews.

I always think than Israel should exist and remain Jewish, but that doesn’t give them free rein to do what they like.

So I think sanctions now, and even full sanctions would be appropriate. Not to destroy Israel or permanently alienate them, but to say ‘no more’.

Your line?

Thank you. I agree that Israel shouldn't have free rein to do whatever it likes, but I think the context matters too. Israel is fighting Hamas, an organisation that deliberately targets civilians and has shown little regard for the laws of armed conflict. That's a very different situation from judging Israel's actions as though this were a conventional, symmetrical conflict.

That doesn't mean Israel is exempt from international law, or that everything can be justified by Hamas. There absolutely have to be limits. But I do think Israel has a legitimate security problem that needs to be taken seriously when assessing its actions and deciding what level of pressure Britain should apply.

As for my line, I don't mean I need some completely undeniable smoking gun before I'd support action. I accept there is very serious evidence of Palestinian displacement, settlement expansion, settler violence and Israeli state involvement, and I think some targeted action is justified already.

Where I draw the line for much broader action against Israel is if it becomes clear that the Israeli state is deliberately and systematically pursuing the forced removal of Palestinians from the West Bank as a policy objective. I appreciate that you think the evidence already demonstrates that; I'm just not convinced it does, particularly when it comes to establishing state intent.

I also think Britain needs to be conscious of the limits of its role. We have responsibilities under international law and legitimate interests in the region, but that doesn't mean every serious injustice necessarily requires Britain to escalate its involvement or fundamentally damage an important strategic relationship.

@Ipsevenenabibas ’Where I draw the line for much broader action against Israel is if it becomes clear that the Israeli state is deliberately and systematically pursuing the forced removal of Palestinians from the West Bank as a policy objective. I appreciate that you think the evidence already demonstrates that; I'm just not convinced it does, particularly when it comes to establishing state intent’.

I wonder how extreme the violence and rhetoric would need to go before you believe their intent? What would convince you?

’I also think Britain needs to be conscious of the limits of its role.

This hyper awareness - fear? is what has held Britain back thus far. However, a stand must be taken, as against any bully, and Britain has at least made this first step of calling it out.

Israel isn't only fighting Hamas.

There are multiple terrorist entities in the West Bank (including Hamas), the same as in Gaza - Hamas is not the only terrorist group there either.

There are almost daily attacks on Jews in the West Bank too. In July in a community of 100 people - 30 homes and businesses were burnt down by suspected Palestinian arson (there are eyewitnesses) and there's been multiple poisonings of Jewish farmers cattle by Palestinians.

Attacks against Israelis in the West Bank including stone-throwing, firebombs, stabbings, assaults and other attacks.

In the April 2026 figures alone there were 325 terror attacks - 23 firebomb attacks, nine pipe-bomb attacks, 21 arson/tire-burning, four stabbing attacks, 267 stone-throwing incidents and an IED attack.

That data excludes most daily riots, rock-throwing and Molotov-cocktail incidents where nobody was injured.

We never hear about this in the MSM.

Miliband never made any mention of this either. I do find that pretty damning tbh.

This has all blown up since attention on the war in Gaza has cooled down and propaganda opportunities have depleted.

Now the propaganda war has moved to the West Bank.

It's strange nobody seems to see that.

267 stone-throwing incidents?

Wonder why they threw stones?

Must have been terrifying for the IDF.

Amazed they found time for the admin after a hard day supporting setters terrorising Palestinian families out of their homes so that they could steal them.

@OpenScroller ,

‘Attacks against Israelis in the West Bank including stone-throwing, firebombs, stabbings, assaults and other attacks.’

Given Israel’s reluctance to allow the media unfettered access to the West Bank, how on earth do we know the truth of that? Aside from the fact, this is illegally settled territory in the first place.

‘We never hear about this in the MSM.’

Probably because the MSM needs to verify stories and they can’t. As opposed to pro-Israel (and probably Israel funded) propaganda channels on YouTube that I suspect you use as your source.

‘This has all blown up since attention on the war in Gaza has cooled down and propaganda opportunities have depleted.
Now the propaganda war has moved to the West Bank.’

And who actually spends the most on influencing the Media, Israel or her enemies? Israel has a pretty slick propaganda machine.

You need to stop fawning at Israel’s feet and start to think critically, especially if you are actually a true friend of a Israel in the long term.

I accept that there is independent evidence and I'm not suggesting that everything happening in the West Bank is unknowable. There are clearly incidents that can be corroborated through multiple sources, and I wouldn't dismiss that evidence simply because access is restricted.

My point is more about the limits of what we can confidently conclude from the information reaching us. Even supposedly independent organisations have to rely on witnesses, local sources, open-source material and sometimes claims from one side or the other. The fact that a source is reputable doesn't make it infallible or completely free from bias.

So for me, critical thinking doesn't mean saying “we know nothing” or "we know everything". It means distinguishing between what is well established, what is strongly evidenced, and what remains disputed. I can acknowledge and condemn documented attacks against Israelis without automatically accepting every allegation made against Israel, just as I can acknowledge documented abuses by Israel without automatically accepting every allegation made against Palestinians.

That's why I'm reluctant to condemn Israel outright based on a particular narrative. I'd rather remain sceptical of all sides and change my view when the evidence warrants it. I think that's a more genuinely critical approach than simply deciding in advance which side's sources are trustworthy.

@Ipsevenenabibas,

‘Where I draw the line for much broader action against Israel is if it becomes clear that the Israeli state is deliberately and systematically pursuing the forced removal of Palestinians from the West Bank as a policy objective. I appreciate that you think the evidence already demonstrates that; I'm just not convinced it does, particularly when it comes to establishing state intent.’

Let’s start with Ben G’vir. Now, he isn’t just some random MP, he is minister for national security, a senior cabinet position. I think it is fair to say that his voice represents the government line, especially when not contradicted by Netanyahu.

‘Ben-Gvir doesn’t just want to hang his enemies; he wants more bloodshed in Gaza – which is still very much a killing field despite a so-called ceasefire. “I think we should be doing 30 to 40 targeted assassinations [in Gaza] per night,” Ben-Gvir recently said on a podcast. “Not just those who pose an immediate threat. There are people there who don’t deserve to live … They are not even people’

‘Ben Gvir dubbed the scheme “Disengagement 710” — a reference to both Israel’s 2005 disengagement from Gaza and the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led massacre, for which many on the Israeli right have partly blamed the withdrawal. It seeks the removal of 250,000 Gazans in its first year, 1.11 million within three years and 1.86 million within seven. Gaza’s population is estimated at some 2.3 million.
“Instead of illusions of peace now, we need actions of emigration now,” Ben Gvir said. “Instead of [Gazans] digging tunnels, it’s time to pack suitcases.”’

Both of the above are reliably sourced, happy to provide references if required.

Now let’s move on to Smotrich. And let’s remind ourselves, he is also not some kind of rogue, he is the actual minister in charge of the West Bank, another relatively senior government position.

‘The Annexation Strategy Behind the Attacks
Bezalel Smotrich, the minister in charge of the West Bank, has repeatedly called for annexing the West Bank and forcibly displacing its Palestinian residents, stating plainly that “the overriding principle for applying sovereignty [to the West Bank] is maximum territory with minimum Arabs.” Smotrich, a settler who was arrested in 2005 on suspicion of planning to blow up an Israeli highway to protest Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza, has also been explicitabout the far-right’s ultimate goal: “We will apply sovereignty over the West Bank, initially through actions on the ground and subsequently through legislation and formal recognition.”
Smotrich’

jstreet.org/maximum-territory-with-minimum-arabs-how-israels-far-right-government-uses-settler-violence-to-pave-the-way-for-annexation/

And here is Israel’s defence minister, Katz on the solution to Gaza.

’Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz admitted this week that Israel’s goal for Gaza is the mass expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza in “every way possible,” despite denying allegations of ethnic cleansing for years.

‘“There is no real solution for Gaza in the end without this migration,” Katz said at a conference hosted by Israeli outlet Yedioth Ahronoth on Wednesday, per a translation by France 24. Israel “is organized and prepared to get them out — by sea, by air, by every way possible.”’

I think that it is now very hard to deny that ethnic cleansing is pretty much Israeli state policy, although Netanyahu most of the time won’t explicitly confirm it. But nor will he deny what these ministers are saying or sack them. In how many other countries would you shrug if senior ministers spoke like that.

‘I also think Britain needs to be conscious of the limits of its role. We have responsibilities under international law and legitimate interests in the region, but that doesn't mean every serious injustice necessarily requires Britain to escalate its involvement or fundamentally damage an important strategic relationship.’

I kind of agree here, but we are not doing this alone. France and Canada are with us as well as the Global South. We are still a significant nation in the world and should take some moral leadership.

(I would say your comment applies much more to Ukraine, where we seem to want to lead the fight against Russia with our comments and money, which is very much against our national interests, when we aren’t close, like Poland or Germany nor powerful like America or China)

You are going to have to provide sources for your claims.

There are almost daily attacks on Jews in the West Bank too. In July in a community of 100 people - 30 homes and businesses were burnt down by suspected Palestinian arson

This is what I can find for instance on your arson claim. It doesn't read as terrorism.
No casualties in Havat Gilad blaze, which forced over 100 families to evacuate, destroyed 13 homes; police said to believe it was lit unintentionally by cigarette butt; probe ongoing

After ruling out arson with a nationalist motive, the Shin Bet withdrew from the investigation and left police to handle it, the outlet said.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.timesofisrael.com/police-arrest-2-palestinians-in-connection-with-devastating-fire-at-west-bank-settlement/amp/

UK senior rabbis approve the government action. The howls of anti semitism are exposed.

A new report from human rights group B’Tselem accusing Israel of trying to ‘eliminate’ living conditions for Palestinians in West Bank.

The Israeli organisation’s hard-hitting report, shared with the Guardian in advance of publication, says Israel is “dramatically intensifying its attacks on every aspect of Palestinian life in the West Bank”, including “the ability to get to work, take children to school or university, receive medical treatment or municipal services, meet family and friends, cultivate land or go on vacation … routine activities that make up human life”.

www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2026/sep/14/israel-palestinian-living-conditions-eliminated-west-bank-human-rights-report

Some do, some don't.

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis has condemned the sanctions against Israeli settlements in the West Bank, calling it a “dark day for British Jews”.

“Today our government has chosen to ignore the deep concerns expressed by so many of us.

“The measures announced amount to little more than political flag-bearing for mendacious anti-Israel rhetoric and those who harbour a dangerous obsession with the Jewish State. These measures will succeed only in bolstering the very extremism they seek to target.

“On the eve of Rosh Hashanah and at a time when our community is more vulnerable than ever to the wave of extremism that has been building over recent years, these sanctions do nothing to advance the cause of peace. Nor do they make anyone safer – quite the contrary.

“Gesture politics of this kind feeds into an increasingly hostile discourse about Israel, and the cumulative effect of such punitive policies is to further embolden those, at home and abroad, who use hatred as a weapon against Jews.”

His concerns were echoed by other Jewish communal groups, with the Board of Deputies saying: “As proud Brits who love our country, and who also have deep religious, cultural and family ties to Israel, we feel a deep sense of anguish about this breakdown in relations.

https://www.thejc.com/news/politics/dark-day-british-jews-chief-rabbi-sanctions-west-bank-settlements-kmlxgfpt

As a (secular) Jew, I do feel that we cannot have it both ways. We cannot support Israel in whatever they do and then claim antisemitism when others conflate Israel and Judaism.

Importantly, I think Israel has failed secular and even liberal Jews by becoming more and more religious and hardline. That just wasn’t what Israel was during the 20th and even part of the early 21st century.

I do think that the diaspora does have a duty to call Israel out when they behave egregiously. Otherwise, how can we criticise the Moslem community for not calling out 7/10 and 9/11 sufficiently.

Supporting Israel’s right to exist (which I do wholeheartedly) is very different from supporting what its current government is doing.

I think that a lot of the Jewish community reflexively support Israel and try to invent justifications for what they are doing, rather than genuinely trying to find out, and criticising when appropriate.

Things are slowly changing, though. Plenty of the Jewish community are not criticising Israel’s actions and saying ‘not in my name’.

*now not ‘not’ in the last sentence

Calling the Israel government out for their actions is one thing @Newbutoldfather and of course plenty of Jewish people don’t want to be associated with it.

The trouble is, there are people around - & we see them on MN - who are blaming all Jewish people for the Israeli government’s actions- even Jewish people living in the UK. There has been a big rise in antisemitism in the UK.

Distancing yourself from Israel as a secular Jew living in the UK is your decision & right. It won’t save you from antisemitic people making false assumptions about you, unfortunately, if they knew you were Jewish.

But does that change because the UK government takes a stronger line on condemning a specific policy that consecutive governments have condemned for decades?

@Twiglets1 ,

That is a two way street.

Tell me you weren’t disappointed by the Muslim’s apathetic responses to 9/11 and, especially, 7/10? Tell me it didn’t make you a little suspicious of their identity in the uk?

It certainly did me, as did the pro Palestine marches after 7/10 and before Israel had even responded.

Now that is no individual Muslim’s fault but you cannot just stand and watch injustice unfold without giving people to think that you at least partially support it.

There is zero excuse for racism of any kind, be it antisemitism or Islamophobia.

Are you able to quote all these MN posts where posters are 'who are blaming all Jewish people for the Israeli government’s actions'. I know that you are on MN much more than I am but I haven't seen this.

I have seen accusations such as yours and accusations of antisemitism when posters criticise the actions of Israel though many times. Another poster, on a different thread in this section was repeatedly accused of antisemitism when asking whether all Israelis should be held culpable for the actions of their government (not Jews, Israelis). Meanwhile the poster who started the thread about the UK government 'siding with the Islamists', clearly an Islamophobic slur has not been criticised. There have been various other comments making generalised derogatory about all Muslims or all Arabs which are not generally not commented on, certainly not by the posters who accuse others of antisemitism constantly.

There has been a rise in antisemitism worldwide because of the actions of the Israeli government. That is tragic. Of course, the Israeli government is blaming everyone else, particularly the Muslims lately.

@rainingsnoring ,

‘There has been a rise in antisemitism worldwide because of the actions of the Israeli government. That is tragic. Of course, the Israeli government is blaming everyone else, particularly the Muslims lately.’

It’s not just because of the actions of the Israeli government, although those have been deeply unhelpful.

Jews have always been scapegoated for the ills of the world, and the rise in techno feudalism (not sure I would 100% agree with the word, but it contains some truth) and the concentration of wealth has once again led to resentment, and guess what that feeds into.

Which is why, as strongly as I will criticise the actions of the current Israeli government and argue for a two state solution, I will defend the right of Israel to continue to exist as a Jewish State.

I totally agree that there is a long history of Jews being scapegoated for the 'ills of the world'. They have been subjected to horrific suffering. I hope everyone acknowledges this.

Can you be a bit more specific about what you mean by Jews being scapegoated for techno-feudalism? Is this about being Jewish or the behaviour of some of these big tech bosses?

I do think it's important to keep some perspective here. I haven't seen any evidence that Jews have experienced more racism than Indigenous people, black people, Asian people, particularly Muslims, who are on the receiving end of the majority of racism in the UK now. Personally, I am against all racism. Some of the posters here, (not referring to you), seem to be very selective in their calls of racism. Some of them even make racist comments about other groups of people. I hate both racism and hypocrisy.

@rainingsnoring ,

‘Can you be a bit more specific about what you mean by Jews being scapegoated for techno-feudalism? ‘Is this about being Jewish or the behaviour of some of these big tech bosses?’

It feeds into the well known antisemitic trope of Jews controlling the financial system and money. Also, the idea that Jews control the media.

I suspect that, in the west, the higher the Gini coefficient, the more the antisemitism. It is also true that the left wing are the most critical of Israel and, for some although far from all, they are also antisemitic (though would deny it if asked).

‘I do think it's important to keep some perspective here. I haven't seen any evidence that Jews have experienced more racism than Indigenous people, black people, Asian people, particularly Muslims, who are on the receiving end of the majority of racism in the UK now. Personally, I am against all racism. Some of the posters here, (not referring to you), seem to be very selective in their calls of racism. Some of them even make racist comments about other groups of people. I hate both racism and hypocrisy.’

I mean, I don’t know what you mean about indigenous people in terms of the UK? However, it’s not a competition. As you say, all racism is awful and Jews can hide their ethnicity more easily (unless they are religious and feel compelled to wear a kippah).

I hate all racism too, although some on here are also quick to call out racism when the issue is a repressive religion or culture. That is dangerous too. Calling someone antisemitic or Islamophobic is sometimes used as a magic spell to silence free speech. We need to be precise and forensic with our definitions.