Katz blasts settler attack on IDF troops, calls on settlement leaders to join condemnation

Defense Minister Israel Katz says he “strongly condemns the grave acts of violence and the attack on IDF soldiers” in the West Bank last night.

Dozens of settlers had attacked soldiers near the village of Kafr Malik, days after an attack against Palestinians in the area.

“I call on law enforcement authorities to act immediately to locate all those who engaged in violence and bring them to justice, as is done everywhere,” Katz says in a statement.

Katz says he also appeals “to the rabbis and settlement leaders to strongly condemn and disavow these acts of violence.”

“The State of Israel will not tolerate violence and taking the law into one’s own hands, and will not allow harm to IDF soldiers who bravely fight against Palestinian terrorism in Judea and Samaria and protect the security of the settlers day and night,” he adds.

Katz has previously said that acts of violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians are not terrorism. He also ended the policy of administrative detentions against extremist settlers while leaving them in place for Palestinians.