Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Conflict in the Middle East

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

151 replies

FloralDeerPattern · 19/03/2026 20:03

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?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
12
FloralDeerPattern · 31/03/2026 14:21

Boolabus · 31/03/2026 13:58

The poster clarified who they were talking about
it shows how racist the democratically elected Israeli government and their institutions are.

No one is defending or suggesting Hamas haven't done horrific things so not sure why you needed to bring that up unless it is to demonstrate how both Hamas and the Israeli battalion are similar in their actions and tactics in which case I would agree.

To be fair I thought my first post was pretty clear too. There must be a lot of yelling at the news in their households everytime they talk about Israel bombing this or Israel implementing the death penalty or Israel taking a slice of Lebanon etc.

That people compare a terrorist organisation that nobody under the age of 40 in Gaza voted for vs the big old racist Netanyahu who has been elected umpteen times the last being 2022 is ridiculous.

At the end of the day Israel is led by an extremely racist government and there is a huge problem with violent, extreme racism that just hasn't been tackled. This racism where ever it is coming from is killing people, it's leading to widespread terror, it's leading to ethnic cleansing and nothing is being done to stop it either from within Israel or outside of Israel. It's growing, it's flourishing and Palestinians are paying the price.

OP posts:
FloralDeerPattern · 31/03/2026 14:25

Twiglets1 · 31/03/2026 14:16

No it was to remind people that if you blame all Israelis for what their leaders do, it would equally be logical to blame all Palestinians for Hamas.

Better in both examples to restrict who you blame to the actual leadership and their supporters but I don’t see that distinction when people make comments about “Israel”.

I was responding to a comment along the lines of, ”this case shows really clearly how racist Israel really is” but Israel is a whole country so collective blame is not fair.

Edited

Israel, the state, is a racist state. Sorry but it just is. That doesn't mean that every person in it is racist but a state that has racist policies is a racist state. A state that commits racial segregation is a racist state. Again not everyone who lives there will be racist but Israels government, the states policies, the states actions are racist.

OP posts:
Twiglets1 · 31/03/2026 14:28

Ellen2shoes · 31/03/2026 14:24

The vote to execute Palestinians was 61/48

Netanyahu voted for it.

Israel passes law to give death penalty to Palestinians convicted of lethal attacks | Israel | The Guardian

@Twiglets1 The war on Iran has done wonders for his popularity.

https://thejewishindependent.com.au/netanyahu-war-election-victory

What’s your point?

Twiglets1 · 31/03/2026 14:33

You know if you guys insist on saying “Israel” is racist that’s your choice.

If I was rude enough I would respond by saying Palestinians are racist and could provide evidence of high levels of support for Hamas.

But I prefer not to sink that low, knowing that the statement lacks nuance & will offend people on MN.

Boolabus · 31/03/2026 14:41

Twiglets1 · 31/03/2026 14:33

You know if you guys insist on saying “Israel” is racist that’s your choice.

If I was rude enough I would respond by saying Palestinians are racist and could provide evidence of high levels of support for Hamas.

But I prefer not to sink that low, knowing that the statement lacks nuance & will offend people on MN.

It seems to be a simple comprehension issue when people (not just mn) say Israel, Britain, US and so on they are generally understood to be talking about the state. If the poster said Israelis are racist that would obviously suggest the population of Israel.

In your example you said Palestinians are racist which would suggest the population you then went further and said they are racist because they support Hamas so you are once again suggesting the population, while everyone you are responding to are talking about the Israeli state and it's institutions.

But I prefer not to sink that low
But you did because you were clearly referring to the Palestinian population ....

Ellen2shoes · 31/03/2026 15:36

Israel has plenty of good & moderate people living there too, who didn’t vote for the extremist coalition party currently running Israel & will actively vote against them when they get the opportunity.

While this is of course true, the fact remains that Netanyahu is extremely popular. Increasing popularity means likely to stay in power - so nothing changes.

This is why sanctions are the only option.

Do you believe this is a reason to sanction?

www.thejournal.ie/israeli-mps-debate-death-penalty-for-palestinians-convicted-of-deadly-attacks-6998883-Mar2026/

Ellen2shoes · 31/03/2026 15:38

Ellen2shoes · 31/03/2026 15:36

Israel has plenty of good & moderate people living there too, who didn’t vote for the extremist coalition party currently running Israel & will actively vote against them when they get the opportunity.

While this is of course true, the fact remains that Netanyahu is extremely popular. Increasing popularity means likely to stay in power - so nothing changes.

This is why sanctions are the only option.

Do you believe this is a reason to sanction?

www.thejournal.ie/israeli-mps-debate-death-penalty-for-palestinians-convicted-of-deadly-attacks-6998883-Mar2026/

As a response to you and meant to quote your post @Twiglets1

FloralDeerPattern · 31/03/2026 15:59

Twiglets1 · 31/03/2026 14:33

You know if you guys insist on saying “Israel” is racist that’s your choice.

If I was rude enough I would respond by saying Palestinians are racist and could provide evidence of high levels of support for Hamas.

But I prefer not to sink that low, knowing that the statement lacks nuance & will offend people on MN.

There is a big difference between saying Israel is racist and Israelis are racist. If you disagree that Israel, the state, is racist then you should provide reason why you think that that isn't the case rather than accusing posters here of being racist.

I haven't seen you disrupt threads where people have stated that 'Iran is the biggest threat to the world' or many of the other 'Iran is' or 'the US is' statements people have made to talk about how not all Iranians or Americans and accuse people of being racist so I'm not sure why you feel the need to on this thread? What exactly is it about this thread that has led you here more than once to drag it off topic?

OP posts:
Twiglets1 · 31/03/2026 16:09

Boolabus · 31/03/2026 14:41

It seems to be a simple comprehension issue when people (not just mn) say Israel, Britain, US and so on they are generally understood to be talking about the state. If the poster said Israelis are racist that would obviously suggest the population of Israel.

In your example you said Palestinians are racist which would suggest the population you then went further and said they are racist because they support Hamas so you are once again suggesting the population, while everyone you are responding to are talking about the Israeli state and it's institutions.

But I prefer not to sink that low
But you did because you were clearly referring to the Palestinian population ....

No I didn’t because I’m not saying Palestinians are racist.

Boolabus · 31/03/2026 16:55

Twiglets1 · 31/03/2026 16:09

No I didn’t because I’m not saying Palestinians are racist.

Good thanks for clarifying, and to further clarify no one said Israelis were racist so let's leave it there.

Boolabus · 31/03/2026 16:59

@Ellen2shoes I agree sanctions are the only option but it is extremely unlikely to ever happen unless there is a massive shift in how the international community respond to the Israeli governments treatment of Palestinians, which at the moment seems to be nothing more than strongly worded letters🙄

Twiglets1 · 31/03/2026 17:03

Boolabus · 31/03/2026 16:55

Good thanks for clarifying, and to further clarify no one said Israelis were racist so let's leave it there.

I didn't think it would be controversial to say this case shows racism amongst certain parts of Israel not the whole country.

Happy to leave it there and thank you also for clarifying your position.

FloralDeerPattern · 02/04/2026 09:20

And Israel are back to doing what they always do. The IDF protecting settlers as they set up their new outpost in the area they detained the CNN workers. Once the American journos go home it's back to business as usual.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/31/middleeast/israeli-settler-attacks-tayasir-latam-intl

Dozens of Israeli settlers returned to the West Bank village of Tayasir on Wednesday to build a new illegal settler outpost on its outskirts, days after a separate one was dismantled following a CNN report covering its establishment.

Local residents and eyewitnesses told CNN settlers arrived in the morning with a flock of sheep loaded onto the back of an army vehicle. Videos sent to CNN show Israeli soldiers and military jeeps providing protection to the settlers as they erect new tents.

An Israeli attorney representing a Palestinian Bedouin community that was displaced in the area also confirmed the military’s presence.

“The outpost was accompanied by military vehicles,” Dr. Netta Amar-Shiff told CNN. “It was built with the direct support and guard of the military.”

Five days earlier, settlers stormed the village of Tayasir, beating multiple residents and establishing an illegal outpost in the village. CNN witnessed Israeli troops standing idly by the new outpost before detaining multiple Palestinians and the CNN crew instead.

Israeli settlers renew attacks on West Bank village where Israeli soldiers detained, assaulted CNN crew | CNN

Israeli settlers on Tuesday mounted another attack in the West Bank village of Tayasir, days after a CNN team covering the establishment of an illegal settler outpost were detained and assaulted by Israeli soldiers.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/03/31/middleeast/israeli-settler-attacks-tayasir-latam-intl

OP posts:
Ellen2shoes · 02/04/2026 23:29

Finally voices are reported taking a stand -

MEP Barry Andrews calls the UE response to the attacks on Lebanon ‘weak and pathetic’

He is calling for the EU to revive sanctions against Israel, which were sidelined by the announcement of a ‘ceasefire’ in Gaza. He believes ‘the EU must respond to Israel’s attacks on Lebanon, but also state-backed settler violence in the West Bank, attacks on health workers in Gaza, and Israel’s potential reinstatement of the death penalty against Palestinians.’

‘Sven Kühn von Burgsdorff, the EU representative to the Palestinian territories until 2023, believes the EU should suspend this agreement with Israel, halt all military support and cease trade with illegal settlements. He fears that without action to defend international law in Gaza and the West Bank, the EU’s reputation “will be further severely affected”. He said: “The usual words of concern and condemnation are not enough; they are meaningless when not followed by effective measures to hold Israel to account.” ‘

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/02/why-eu-not-using-leverage-israel-lebanon-gaza

‘Weak and pathetic’: why is the EU not using its leverage to stop Israel?

Deep divisions on Israel mean the union has failed to act over Lebanon, Gaza, or settler violence in the West Bank

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/apr/02/why-eu-not-using-leverage-israel-lebanon-gaza

Boolabus · 10/04/2026 18:20

More murders

The Israeli military said he was shot by an off-duty soldier and accused him of throwing stones.

Killed for throwing stones trying to protect greenhouses.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czrekrzzex1o

The killing came as ex-security chiefs warned that "government sponsored Jewish terrorism" was running wild in the West Bank and the Israeli government reportedly approved dozens more settlements.

Alaa Khalid Subeih

Palestinian shot dead during Israeli settler attack on occupied West Bank village

The killing came as ex-security chiefs warned "government sponsored Jewish terrorism" was out of control.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czrekrzzex1o

FloralDeerPattern · 10/04/2026 19:16

Boolabus · 10/04/2026 18:20

More murders

The Israeli military said he was shot by an off-duty soldier and accused him of throwing stones.

Killed for throwing stones trying to protect greenhouses.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czrekrzzex1o

The killing came as ex-security chiefs warned that "government sponsored Jewish terrorism" was running wild in the West Bank and the Israeli government reportedly approved dozens more settlements.

Edited

It really demonstrates that Palestinians have no right to self defence. With the Israeli government secretly legalising over 30 of these settlers outposts in the past month it's not something that is about to change any time soon.

OP posts:
Ellen2shoes · 11/04/2026 21:41

I agree, the diabolical silence from the UK government does not give us hope that sanctions will be instigated here.
Interesting piece by Gideon Levy in Haaretz recently sheds some light on how some Israelis may see an end to this - by severing the tie to the US.

Israel won't wake up one morning and tell itself that the occupation, the apartheid and its endless wars must stop and that it must also listen to the world. Only severing the link to the United States could bring this about.

Pasted here in case link doesn’t work:

After years of Israel doing whatever it wants, the war in Iran may become a watershed of the relations between the United States and Israel. Severing the unconditional link between the two means Israel will have to decide between creating a different Israel – or having no Israel at all.

At the end of this futile war, a glimmer of hope emerges. It's written on ice: It could turn into a disaster, as wars do, and yet, there is some hope. In these days of despair, it's hard to expect any more than that.

The war may generate a fateful upending of the relations between the United States and Israel. What was will be no more. While people in Israel take pride in the cooperation between the two countries and in the alliance of pilots forged over the skies of Tehran, dark clouds are forming around the corner. The more the war's failure becomes apparent, the clearer it becomes that the United States has gotten itself into a mess without a clue as to how to get out, the greater the blame game that will follow.

It will be patently one-sided. The United States will cast all the blame on Israel. This could lead to a domino effect in other countries that are just waiting for the ties between the two to be severed. When the fire dies down, Israel may find itself in a situation it has never been in: a local North Korea. It could become an isolated pariah state devoid of the American support, without which it can't exist.

The unhealthy underpinnings of the ties between the United States and Israel should have been uprooted years ago. Without a logical base of common interests, it couldn't have lasted. The role-playing between them became increasingly blurred over the years, to the point that it was unclear which one was the superpower. Israel did whatever it pleased, and immense amounts of aid flowed its way unconditionally.

In the days of Mr. America, aka Benjamin Netanyahu, who dared to thumb his nose at the United States more than any other previous prime minister, these relations grew to monstrous dimensions. A prime minister undermined American presidents, and his country suffered no harm, such as during Barack Obama's term in office. Settlements, annexation, criminal wars in Gaza and Lebanon,pogroms, apartheid, genocide – and the United States condemned it. Condemned but kept paying, rebuked and cast vetoes at the UN, scolded and sent airlifts with munitions.
Europe was forced to bite its tongue and not take any action, not even after the Gaza war, out of fear of the United States. Now it's only waiting for an opportunity to settle accounts with Israel, as are huge swaths of U.S. public opinion, even among Jewish communities. Everyone has had more than enough of this kind of Israel, with its ongoing dismissal of the international community, its scorn for international law and the inconceivable gap between public opinion in most countries around the world and the positions of their governments.

The war in Iran may become a watershed. The two American parties are just waiting for the fissure to break open. The first to cast blame will be Donald Trump. He will give the signal, and the flood will follow. It could be destructive, but it may push Israel in a positive direction.

Severing the unconditional link between the United States and Israel may turn into the only hope, if it's followed by a profound change in Israeli policies. This change won't happen on its own. Israel won't wake up one morning and tell itself that the occupation, the apartheid and its endless wars must stop and that it must also listen to the world. Only severing the link to the United States could bring this about. Herein lies a risk that the baby – which hasn't been a baby for a long time – will be thrown out with the global bathwater.

It's difficult to imagine Israel maneuvering without the United States. It's true that prattlers on the right are certain that Israel doesn't need America, but they'll have to face reality. Suddenly, there won't be arms and money and a veto at the UN Security Council. What then? Will settler leader Daniella Weiss protect us? Will National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir prevent a UN resolution? Will the settlers' Ford Rangers travel to Tehran?

That day is closer than all the participants in Israel's march of folly think. Israel will then finally have to decide between a different Israel, or no Israel at all.

https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/2026-04-05/ty-article-opinion/.premium/a-toxic-israel-u-s-relationship-nears-its-breaking-point-amid-war/0000019d-59d4-d759-ab9d-79ddf8920000

Personally struggling with the news feeds and even threads on here - sheer magnitude of the ongoing atrocities committed in Gaza, now Lebanon and Iran and I’m trying to read up as much as possible which has taken me to trying to understand more about the views of Israelis who do not support the actions of their government. (Posters here who are ‘pro Israel’ seem to defend or if not, implicitly support).

Also I posted on another thread a piece by Ehud Shapiro who acknowledges that without resolution to the Palestine/Israel conflict, with a 2 state solution and an end to illegal occupation, the ME cannot begin to address peace.

https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/5819490-palestine-is-trumps-leverage-to-end-the-iran-war/amp/

Hope these voices get louder.

All that said, sanctions need to be imposed for immediate leverage.

IDF confirms: AI infrastructure built in Gaza now active in Iran, Lebanon

A Military Source Says the IDF's AI 'Data Factory' Creates a Single Operational Picture From Multiple Data Streams. Haaretz Has Learned It Also Processes Strike Plans and Targets – Confirming Its Role in Offensive Operations for the First Time

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/security-aviation/2026-03-31/ty-article/.premium/inside-the-idfs-ai-data-factory-powering-strikes-from-iran-to-lebanon/0000019d-4343-d905-a39d-d3c7dc110000

Ellen2shoes · 20/04/2026 10:49

Could this be a glimmer of hope? EU are hosting 60 nations at a conference to discuss long term security, stability and peace with the Palestinian Prime Minister, Mohamed Mustafa. .

‘Outrage in Europe over the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza drove many EU leaders to condemn Israel’s war conduct and to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. With the recent ouster of long-serving Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a close ally of Netanyahu, there might now be enough political support within the bloc for stronger actions like targeted sanctions on Israeli settlers or even the suspension of some ties to Israel.’

From the Independent today
https://apple.news/Aqa1NRdwpQC6OiUGXyHcyDA

EU hosts Palestinian leader in conference about security and peace in Gaza and the West Bank — The Independent

More than 60 nations are sending representatives to Brussels to discuss stability, security and long-term peace in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohamed Mustafa

https://apple.news/Aqa1NRdwpQC6OiUGXyHcyDA

Islandsofsand · 20/04/2026 19:08

Ellen2shoes · 20/04/2026 10:49

Could this be a glimmer of hope? EU are hosting 60 nations at a conference to discuss long term security, stability and peace with the Palestinian Prime Minister, Mohamed Mustafa. .

‘Outrage in Europe over the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza drove many EU leaders to condemn Israel’s war conduct and to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. With the recent ouster of long-serving Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a close ally of Netanyahu, there might now be enough political support within the bloc for stronger actions like targeted sanctions on Israeli settlers or even the suspension of some ties to Israel.’

From the Independent today
https://apple.news/Aqa1NRdwpQC6OiUGXyHcyDA

I wonder if it wss only Orban stopping the EU moving ahead with concerns previously? The cynic in me wonders if this move by the EU is also related to bombing now directly affecting the rest of the world?

I also wonder if people are more concerned of what is happening in the ME when it’s impacting their cost of living?

Nevertheless- a review of the approach of working with all the countries involved in this bombing is welcome.

Ellen2shoes · 20/04/2026 20:39

My knowledge is limited but from what I have read, Orban was blocking any progress towards EU sanctions?

Ellen2shoes · 20/04/2026 21:20

Not disputing that there are other driving factors @Islandsofsand

Boolabus · 20/04/2026 22:07

Palestinians have long hoped that the West Bank would form the heart of a future state, but settlement expansion has fragmented the territory.
Most of the world considers Israel's settlement activity in the West Bank illegal under international law. Israel disputes this.
Israel has approved 102 new settlements under the current government, compared with a total of 127 settlements existing before it was elected, according to Israeli rights group Peace Now.

Human Rights Watch has described the intensifying violence and displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank as ethnic cleansing enabled by the Israeli state, a charge Israel rejects.

I think human rights watch have it bang on

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-ministers-celebrate-reestablishment-settlement-west-bank-2026-04-20/