Israel's DM Katz convenes emergency security meeting to discuss settler youth violence as IDF evacuates illegal outposts

After several days of riots, including Sunday night's destruction of an anti-terror warning system and calls for "revenge" against an IDF officer, Defense Minister Israel Katz called an emergency meeting with security officials to discuss the issue.

Army Radio cited a security source who stated, “Because of the harm to the operational system that was set on fire, the security of the residents of Judea and Samaria will be harmed.” 

“This phenomenon must be put to an immediate end. We will take all necessary measures and completely uproot this violence. No one will dare raise a hand against IDF soldiers and members of the security forces,” Katz said in a statement. 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also released a statement condemning the “anarchist violence.” 

“No civilized country can tolerate anarchistic violence such as setting fire to a military installation, damaging IDF property, and attacks on security personnel by citizens of the country,” said Netanyahu. “Whoever carried out these actions undermines the rule of law and harms the state.” 

The prime minister called on “law enforcement authorities to quickly investigate the events and deal with the rioters to the fullest extent of the law.” 

However, Netanyahu was also quick to defend the broader settler movement.

“The settler community exemplifies the development of the country and significant service in the IDF, and contributes to the ranks of religious scholars. We will not allow a handful of violent ideologues to defame an entire community.” 

While no suspects in the violent attacks on Sunday night had been arrested at the time of publication, Israeli media reported that the military had evacuated three settler outposts in Judea and Samaria – believed to be sources of recent nationalist crimes – amid concerns over the potential for further incidents.

One of the evacuated outposts was Ba'al Hatzor, identified as the origin point of Sunday night’s incident. Just last week, extremists from the same outpost attacked Palestinian buildings and vehicles in the nearby village of Kafr Malik.

On Monday, during the evacuation of another outpost in a different sector, extremists ignited a fire that spread towards a town and a large number of fire crews and five firefighting aircraft were required to contain the blaze.

While Israeli opposition leaders were also quick to condemn the violence, several called the attackers terrorists. 

Opposition leader Yair Lapid told Army Radio, “These are Jewish terrorists, a gang of criminals, who feel they have the support of the coalition. Anyone who uses force against IDF soldiers should be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law.” 

Opposition Knesset Member Benny Gantz, head of the National Unity party, also called the attack “terrorism,” and blamed the coalition for the “deliberate weakening of the police.” 

“The event we witnessed last night, which joins a severe wave of additional events, begins with a dangerous tailwind for violence and Jewish terrorism, blowing directly from ministers in the government,” Gantz said in a statement. “From the deliberate weakening of the police, from attacks on the Shin Bet and the IDF instead of on the rioters. Weak condemnations will not stop the violence – only actions will.” 

Right-wing opposition Knesset Member Avigdor Liberman also condemned the settler violence, saying, "The rioters who set fire to a security-operational facility tonight must be punished to the fullest extent of the law."

"Any harm to IDF soldiers is a severe blow to the State of Israel and its values. I call on the law enforcement authorities to act decisively and to bring those responsible for these despicable acts to justice," Liberman wrote on 𝕏.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the head of the pro-settler Religious Zionism party, condemned the attacks after implying in a previous statement that the IDF was too forceful in its response to the incident.

“Criminals are criminals are criminals. Everywhere in the country,” Smotrich posted on 𝕏 on Monday morning. “Violence against IDF soldiers and beloved Israel Police personnel and the destruction of property are unacceptable and constitute crossing a red line!” 

He called on the Israel Police “to investigate the incidents thoroughly and to bring those responsible to justice.” 

“The settlement in Judea and Samaria is the beautiful face of the State of Israel, and it has no connection whatsoever to the type of incidents reported this morning,” he stated. 

However, some Israelis responded to Smotrich’s post, reminding him that in 2019, he had written on 𝕏: “Anyone who throws stones at Israeli vehicles is a terrorist, and it’s very good that he is shot and killed.” 

לא הבנתי מה הבעיה ומה יש לתחקר. מי שזורק אבנים לעבר רכבים ישראלים הוא מחבל וטוב מאוד שהוא נורה ונהרג. אם זה היה קורה יותר היו כאן הרבה פחות פיגועים והרבה פחות זריקות אבנים. https://t.co/Yvhyp1CSCL

— בצלאל סמוטריץ' (@bezalelsm) March 20, 2019

“If this happened more often, there would be far fewer attacks and far fewer stone-throwing incidents here,” he said at the time. 

Smotrich had previously called the IDF’s attempt to restore security, including the use of live fire, “forbidden” and “dangerous.” 

“The IDF’s live fire against Jews is a forbidden and dangerous crossing of a red line which requires an in-depth investigation,” the Religious Zionism leader wrote in an earlier statement. 

Sunday night’s incident followed a series of attacks last week and over the weekend in which Jewish settlers targeted Palestinian towns and homes at multiple locations across Judea and Samaria.

Although the IDF intervened to disperse settlers during the clashes on Friday and Saturday, the military stated that it did not use live fire, despite coming under attack from the settlers.