Ben Gvir claims IDF chief and Gallant to blame for deadly settler riot, says he condemns vigilantism

In his first public remarks on the deadly settler violence this evening, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir lashes out at IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, claiming they’re to blame for the rampage in Jit.

“I told the chief of staff this evening that not backing soldiers in shooting any terrorist who throws rocks leads to the type of incidents like tonight,” Ben Gvir, who heads the ultranationalist Otzma Yehidut party, says in a statement.

“Despite this, it’s unequivocally forbidden to take the law into your own hands,” he continues, without explicitly denouncing the rioters. “It’s the IDF that needs to deal with terror and deterrence, including toward the terrorists from Jit. The time has come for the defense minister to leave this conception and do it.”