Head of IDF West Bank division: We won’t be silent on settler violence
Brig. Gen. Avi Blot calls such acts ‘unethical, un-Jewish’; outgoing Binyamin Regional Brigade commander Eliav Elbaz: Extremists behave ‘in criminal manner and shame me as a Jew’
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The head of the Israel Defense Force’s West Bank division on Wednesday evening slammed attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in recent months, during a handover ceremony for the commander of the Binyamin Regional Brigade.
“Our mission is, first and foremost, to provide security and ensure that the IDF prevents terror so that the civilians are able to continue their daily routine. That said, we will enforce law and order,” said Brig. Gen. Avi Blot, the head of the Judea and Samaria Division.
“The IDF will not stand silent when lawbreakers enter villages, set fire to property and risk lives. For actions like these, we say loud and clear — this is unethical, un-Jewish, it does not contribute to security and last week showed it is also dangerous,” he continued.
On Saturday night after midnight, Israeli soldiers shot and moderately wounded a Jewish extremist who was among a group throwing stones at Palestinian cars near the West Bank settlement of Maaleh Levona, hours after an Israeli father and son were shot to death in a terror attack in the Palestinian town of Huwara.
Addressing the outgoing commander of the Binyamin Regional Brigade, Col. Eliav Elbaz, who had come under repeated attack by settlers, including during a condolence visit in June to the family of a terror victim, Blot said: “The fact that you, Elbaz, had to endure vilification by people who do not represent the community, as you arrived to pay condolences, is outrageous and worthy of condemnation.”
Elbaz said the past two years as the commander of the Binyamin Regional Brigade were the “longest, most intense years I have experienced.”
“Two years with over 2,000 arrest operations… two years of accomplishments and failures… two years of cooperation,” he said.
But Elbaz added that during this time, “on the fringes of the community, there grew and developed Jewish civilians who behave in a criminal, unethical manner and shame me as a Jew.”
“Despite the enormous difficulty and the heavy personal price I knew I would pay, I had no doubt for a moment, a leader and commander does not avoid confrontation, does not cut corners, and is at the front, especially when it is difficult and unpleasant,” he added.
The incoming head of the Binyamin Regional Brigade, Col. Liran Biton, said he feels “privileged” to take command of the unit. “We have many challenges ahead of us,” he said.
Recent months have seen a rise in settler violence, with the Israeli defense establishment recording over 700 attacks on Palestinians and their property during the first six months of 2023.
According to official data provided to The Times of Israel, there were 680 incidents of stone-throwing or assault of Palestinians by settlers in the first six months of this year, compared to 950 in all of 2022.
The defense establishment had also recorded 11 so-called “price tag” vandalism attacks in the first six months of 2023, compared to 18 in all of last year.
Additionally, there have been 25 serious attacks by settlers in the West Bank in the first six months of this year, according to the data. Those included arson attacks on homes and mosques in Palestinian towns and other serious incidents of violence, some ending with Palestinian casualties. In all of 2022, the defense establishment recorded 25 serious settler attacks against Palestinians.
The recent settler attacks have been condemned by the military, police, and a number of politicians, including some from the hardline right-wing coalition, but there has been little clear-cut condemnation from settlement leaders.
Some far-right lawmakers have indicated their support for the violent settlers, and have attacked defense officials.
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