Israeli government minister blasted for comparing country's security heads with Russian Wagner mercenaries

A government minister from Israel's far-right Religious Zionism party was criticized by the prime minister and senior military officials on Monday for comparing Israeli security with the Wagner mercenaries in Russia.

In a radio interview, Israeli National Missions Minister Orit Struck condemned Israeli senior leaders for referring to Jewish settler violence as terrorism.

Struck's comments were targeted at IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi, Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar and Police Chief Kobi Shabtai, who condemned the actions of Jewish settlers in a joint statement.

“In recent days, violent attacks have been carried out in Judea and Samaria by Israeli civilians against innocent Palestinians,” read the statement in a reference to Jewish settlers responsible for retaliatory attacks against Palestinians in West Bank villages.

The senior Israeli officials stressed that such violent acts are incompatible with Jewish morals and values.

“These attacks go against every moral and Jewish value and are also nationalist terrorism in every respect, and we are committed to fighting them," they said.

While Struck distanced herself from the recent Jewish settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank, also known as Judea and Samaria, she refused to call their acts terrorism.

“I am against these events, but calling it Jewish nationalist terrorism is a shame and disgrace,” Struck said during a local radio interview on Monday.

“Who are you, the Wagner force?” Struck stated during the interview.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blasted Struck for comparing Israeli security and military forces to Wagner forces in Russia.

“The leaders and personnel of our security services are working day and night to defend the State of Israel and its citizens. In a democracy, everyone is subject to criticism, however, there are no grounds for denigrating the people who are leading our fight against terrorism and for the security of Israel,” the Prime Minister’s Office noted in an official statement.

“In the light of the recent upsurge in complaints, Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered an inquiry into claims regarding the use of excessive force by the security forces against citizens in Judea and Samaria,” according to the statement.