IDF chief regrets forces could not stop settlers rampaging in West Bank village

Speaking at a Navy officers’ graduation ceremony, IDF chief Herzi Halevi says he regrets that the army was unable to prevent extremist settlers from rioting in the West Bank town of Huwara earlier this week.

“The IDF prevents many terror attacks every week. Unfortunately, we were unable to prevent the last ones,” Halevi says at the Haifa naval base, referring to two deadly shooting attacks in the West Bank.

“We also had to prevent what developed following the attack in Huwara,” he says.

“Riots, violence against IDF soldiers, and damage to residents and property as an act of revenge are something that must be condemned,” Halevi says.

“These phenomena are fundamentally unacceptable, distracting IDF forces from fighting terror, and almost resulted in more casualties this week in a confrontation between soldiers and a settler youth who attacked them,” he says.

“This is the time to make clear statements, a time to draw boundaries for those who think that an uncontrolled internal struggle will improve our security,” Halevi continues.

“Alongside the great pain, we will act with determination to apprehend the murderers and with uncompromising responsibility in order to keep us a united country in the face of many challenges,” he adds.