PM Netanyahu slams recent violence by ‘small extremist groups’ of settlers, calls for ‘resolute’ law enforcement

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as the defense and foreign ministers, came out strongly on Monday against the recent spike in violent riots perpetrated by Jews against Palestinians, as well as police and army forces in Judea and Samaria.

“I view with great severity the violent disturbances and the attempt to take the law into their own hands by a small, extremist group that does not represent the residents of Judea and Samaria,” Netanyahu said in a statement.

The past few weeks have seen a sharp uptick in attacks by so-called “Hilltop Youth,” mostly groups of young Jewish men often living in settlement outposts that are illegal under Israeli law.

On Monday, rioters attacked an Arab village after violently clashing with Israeli security forces who had evacuated an illegal outpost.

“I call on the law enforcement authorities to deal with the rioters to the fullest extent of the law. I intend to deal with this personally and convene the relevant ministers as soon as possible to address this serious phenomenon. I stand by the IDF and the security forces, which will continue to act resolutely and without fear to maintain order,” Netanyahu said in his first detailed statement on the issue.

Also on Monday, Defense Minister Israel Katz and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar joined Netanyahu in condemning the recent incidents, which have received significant worldwide media coverage.

Katz expressed his “full backing” to the IDF’s Central Command, which is responsible for Judea and Samaria. The opposition has harshly criticized Katz for stopping the practice of administrative detentions for violent settlers, arguing that law enforcement has deteriorated since then.

The defense minister also vowed to “continue to strengthen and expand” the Jewish communities in the area, “while upholding the law, ensuring the security of the residents, and safeguarding stability.”

“We will not tolerate attempts by a small violent and criminal group of anarchist lawbreakers to take the law into their own hands, stain the reputation of the settlers, harm IDF soldiers, undermine order, or divert our forces from their mission of defending Israeli citizens and thwarting Palestinian terror. There will be zero tolerance toward anyone who resorts to violence.”

Foreign Minister Sa’ar said that the “Jewish rioters in Judea and Samaria harm the State of Israel, disgrace Judaism, and cause damage to the settlement project. They are not us. They are not the State of Israel.”

Katz also said the government would grant additional powers to a special project director tasked with combating the settler violence phenomenon.

In June, Katz had appointed Col. (res.) Avichai Tenaami, a former commander and fighter in the IDF’s elite Sayeret Matkal commando, specifically to deal with the violence from the Hilltop Youth. However, Ynet News reported that he had not made any tangible progress yet.

Given the absence of administrative detention orders against extremist settlers, the Shin Bet’s new director, David Zini, ordered to examine the use of electronic ankle monitors as a tool to supervise known trouble makers.

Want to help more people find our reporting from Israel? Leave a quick Google review of our website here.