Biden said to press PM to curb settler violence, fearing it’ll exacerbate Gaza war

US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participate in an expanded meeting with Israeli and US government officials, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, in Tel Aviv. (AP/Evan Vucci)
US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participate in an expanded meeting with Israeli and US government officials, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, in Tel Aviv. (AP/Evan Vucci)

US President Joe Biden has urged Prime Minister Netanyahu during phone calls in recent days to ensure that Israeli authorities are preventing growing incidents of settler violence, fearing that a deterioration in the West Bank will significantly exacerbate the current Gaza war, the Axios news site reports.

Ninety Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since the October 7 Hamas onslaught. Most of them were armed gunmen shot dead in clashes but some were civilians, including five shot dead by Israeli settlers who have not been prosecuted.

Most Popular