The Israeli army’s Chief of Staff, Aviv Kohavi, ordered on Friday commanders of the military divisions to reduce the “rampant insecurity” committed by settlers in the West Bank.
Although the Israeli army had participated in many of the settlers’ attacks against Palestinians, Kohavi specifically criticized settlers who unreasonably behaved against members of the Israeli army.
Security sources in Tel Aviv said they fear things could head towards a dangerous level of escalation, particularly in Nablus and Jenin refugee camp, which are considered high-conflict areas in the current confrontations between settlers and Palestinians.
The sources warned that these areas could see out-of-control clashes if settlers continue to exercise aggression against Palestinians.
They added that escalation could turn critical if Palestinians who are not involved in security activities feel forced to support their brothers in the face of the multiplying crimes committed by extremist settlers.
Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said the Israeli army’s chief of staff attended recently an important meeting to discuss these attacks, in the presence of regional commander Major General Yehuda Fox and others.
They reached a conviction that the settlers’ attacks could not be tolerated anymore.
The security chiefs ordered commanders of the military divisions currently operating in the West Bank to maintain order not only when it comes to combating Palestinian operations, but also to impose stricter measures to prevent settlers’ attacks.
Several hundred settlers, including mayors and local leaders, held demonstrations against the army and its practices throughout the West Bank.
The army also revealed on Friday that an off-duty Israeli settler soldier took advantage of his vacation to join the demonstrators in Mount Hebron, violently attacking and throwing stones at troops operating in the South Hebron Hills area.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz said he “strongly condemns” the attack.
