Israeli Settlers Attack Military Base In West Bank/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Israeli settlers stormed a military base in the West Bank, vandalizing property and clashing with soldiers. The attack follows deadly settler violence in Palestinian towns, fueling political condemnation. Israeli leaders vow a crackdown as tensions in the region escalate.
Israeli Settlers West Bank Rampage Quick Looks
- Israeli settlers storm military base north of Ramallah
- Vehicles torched, graffiti sprayed, infrastructure damaged
- Attack follows settlers’ deadly raid in Kfar Malik
- Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir condemn violence against IDF
- Extremist “hilltop youth” blamed for Sunday’s riot
- Opposition labels attackers “Jewish terrorists”
- Defense Minister vows crackdown on settler violence
- West Bank sees rising tensions amid Gaza war backdrop
Deep Look
Israeli Settlers Storm Military Base In West Bank Amid Surging Tensions And Political Fallout
TEL AVIV, Israel — Dozens of Israeli settlers launched a violent assault on an Israeli military base in the occupied West Bank on Sunday night, torching vehicles, scrawling graffiti on military buildings, vandalizing infrastructure, and physically assaulting soldiers, the Israeli military confirmed on Monday.
The brazen attack underscored the growing volatility across the West Bank, where violence between extremist settlers and Palestinian residents has surged alongside Israel’s ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Sunday’s rampage occurred just north of Ramallah and appeared to be fueled by anger over recent arrests of settlers accused of carrying out deadly assaults on Palestinian communities. The Israeli military shared images of the aftermath, showing scorched infrastructure and burned-out military vehicles. The army stated that some of the damaged systems were critical for “thwarting terrorist attacks and maintaining security.”
Settler Violence Follows Deadly Raid On Kfar Malik
The chaos came days after over 100 settlers stormed the Palestinian town of Kfar Malik on Wednesday evening. Najeb Rostom, head of the local council, said settlers set property on fire and opened fire on Palestinians who tried to resist the attack. Israeli soldiers intervened, and three Palestinians were killed during the clashes. Israeli security forces arrested five settlers involved in the assault.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced Sunday’s attack on the military base, declaring,
“No civilized country can tolerate violent and anarchic acts of burning a military facility, damaging IDF property and attacking security personnel by citizens of the country.”
Political Leaders Condemn Rampage
Footage aired on Israeli media showed groups of young religious men, frequently linked to the “hilltop youth”—an extremist faction of settlers known for occupying remote hilltops in the West Bank and carrying out attacks against Palestinians. Security forces were seen using stun grenades to disperse the settlers.
Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has often defended settlers accused of similar acts, offered a rare rebuke, writing on X:
“Attacking security forces, security facilities, and IDF soldiers who are our brothers, our protectors, is a red line and must be dealt with in full severity. We are brothers.”
Opposition leader Yair Lapid, speaking to Israel’s Army radio, branded the rioters as “Jewish terrorists, gangs of criminals, who feel backed by the (governing) coalition.”
Ben-Gvir, who has a history of convictions for racist incitement and support for terrorist groups, has advocated for the expulsion of Arab citizens from Israel. His political rise, alongside a rightward shift in Israel’s electorate, has emboldened hardline settlers, contributing to the spike in West Bank violence.
Defense Officials Promise Crackdown
Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed Monday to eliminate settler violence at its roots, warning extremist settlers to remember that many soldiers are reservists already exhausted from multiple tours of duty.
The violence is unfolding against a broader backdrop of rising Israeli security operations in the West Bank. Over the past two years of Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, Palestinians in the West Bank have reported a significant increase in military checkpoints, security sweeps, and travel delays. Israel insists that threats emanating from the West Bank have escalated and pose growing dangers to Israeli citizens.
The West Bank, captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war alongside Gaza and east Jerusalem, remains at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Around 3 million Palestinians live under what critics call indefinite Israeli military rule, while roughly 500,000 Jewish settlers reside in settlements that the international community overwhelmingly deems illegal under international law. Palestinians envision the West Bank, Gaza, and east Jerusalem as integral parts of a future independent state.
Sunday’s events underscore the increasingly combustible environment in the West Bank, where political rhetoric, settler extremism, and military operations are colliding, raising new alarms about the region’s stability.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.