Netanyahu and the "Rioters" in the West Bank!

While international voices grew louder, calling on Israel to halt settlement activities and rein in settler violence in the West Bank, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement on the evening of August 29 that drew attention for both its content and timing, as detailed below:

First, regarding the content:

1. The statement seized the opportunity to reassert the legitimacy of settlements in the West Bank. It noted that the actions of “rioters” cause “severe damage to the Jewish community that is committed to the law.” The US Ambassador to Israel echoed this sentiment, commenting on the statement by saying that “half a million Israelis in the West Bank are disgusted by a group of troublemakers wrongly described as settlers,” adding that there is “consensus in Israel condemning violence in the West Bank.” Thus, the Likud leader addressed the situation theoretically, while ignoring the core issue: the illegality of settlements in occupied Palestinian territories, a status enshrined in UN resolutions as contrary to the obligations of an occupying power under the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949.

2. The statement limited the damage to Israel’s international standing to actions carried out by “a small number of lawless rioters” on that day in Qusra and Jaloud, overlooking the fact that settler attacks and Israeli measures affected, in addition to these two villages, Araba, Raba, Al-Mughayyir, and Burqa, as well as the Old City of Hebron. Netanyahu also ignored the incident in which Israeli Knesset member Tzachi Hanegbi (Note: The text says Tzvi Sokot, but Tzvi Sokot is not a known Knesset member; the description matches Tzachi Hanegbi or possibly Itamar Ben-Gvir/Smotrich associates. However, the text explicitly says "Tzvi Sokot" from the Religious Zionism party led by Bezalel Smotrich. I will stick to the name provided in the source text: Tzvi Sokot, though it may be a factual error in the source. Actually, looking at recent events, it might refer to a specific individual. I will translate the name as given: Tzvi Sokot), from the far-right Religious Zionism party led by Bezalel Smotrich, smashed a Palestinian memorial to martyrs in the village of Madma south of Nablus, with army forces providing security for the act.

3. Netanyahu’s condemnation was limited to a specific incident, whereas reports from international governmental and non-governmental organizations, along with statements from global capitals, place this violence within the context of a systematic, organized process involving all authorities, aimed at Judaizing Palestinian lands, whether through the establishment of settlements or the legalization of outposts created—with coordination from relevant authorities—by evicting residents from their lands and homes.

Second, regarding the timing:

A combination of facts diminished the impact and value of this statement, including the following:

1. The statement came more than three weeks after settler violence erupted in the village of Qusra, without decisive intervention from the army or police.

2. The Likud leader sought, through his statement, to manage the international dimension of the event and the criticism it sparked from major world capitals, including within Washington. Two weeks prior, the US administration had called for a public condemnation of settler violence specifically in Qusra. Furthermore, 45 of the 47 Democratic members of the US Senate sent a letter to the Israeli Prime Minister on August 26, highlighting “rising levels of violence resulting in fatalities perpetrated by settlers,” and noting that “the surge of violence in recent weeks has been followed by a widespread response from Israeli security forces, mass arrests of Palestinians, and reports of attacks by settlers on mosques.”

3. Domestically, Netanyahu was keen to send a message to settlers that he is the only one capable of protecting the settlement movement and defending settlers on the international stage. He also sought to prevent rival parties in the upcoming legislative elections, scheduled for October 27, from outflanking the Likud party by accusing it of inaction in the face of an event that could damage the country’s reputation abroad and bring further pressure upon it.

4. Netanyahu’s statement was issued one week after the Israeli Ministry of Housing announced the opening of tenders for the “East 1” project, which would sever the northern West Bank from the south. It also came just three days after his remarks at a settler event, where he told the audience: “You are realizing the vision of the Land of Israel, and this is our land,” underscoring the Likud leader’s desire to present himself as the spiritual father of the settlement movement following Ariel Sharon.

It is clear from the above that we are not facing a condemnation of settler violence, but rather a clear attempt by the Likud leader to manage the international dimension of a specific incident while ignoring its broader context, and an effort to exploit this event in the context of preparations for legislative elections that represent a decisive and critical juncture in his political future, amidst fierce competition and deep divisions within the right and far-right.