Shin Bet figures said to belie IDF spokesman’s claim that settler violence dropping

Figures from Israel’s security establishment on settler violence completely contradict IDF Spokesman Gen. Effie Defrin’s recent claim that there has been a “significant and unequivocal” drop in attacks by Israeli extremists, Army Radio reports.

Defrin made the claim several times during an interview on former journalist Nadav Perry’s podcast last week.

דובר צה״ל, תא״ל אפי דפרין, סיפר בשבוע שעבר בפודקאסט של נדב פרי על ״ירידה משמעותית וחד משמעית״ בהיקף אירועי הפשיעה הלאומנית ביו״ש. תא״ל דפרין חזר על הדברים שלוש פעמים, גם כשהמראיין פרי התפלא למשמע דבריו – הוא היה נחרץ ביותר. מצורפים דבריו.

אלא שנתוני מערכת הביטחון לפשיעה… pic.twitter.com/6VOkNQ7gRg

— דורון קדוש | Doron Kadosh (@Doron_Kadosh) July 28, 2026

However, Shin Bet figures published by Army Radio show a completely different story.

In the first half of 2026, settler extremists carried out 660 attacks against Palestinians — an increase of roughly 60% from the second half of 2025, when 405 such incidents were recorded.

In the first half of 2025, 440 nationalistically motivated crimes were carried out by Jewish extremists, compared to 355 in the second half of 2024 and 316 in the first half of 2024.

Settler attacks on Israeli security forces also climbed from 30 to 45 in the last six months, compared to the second half of 2025. The number of injured Palestinians in settler attacks has also jumped from 82 to 140.

The number of Palestinian fatalities has also climbed significantly, Army Radio says, without providing figures.

Even during the last several months — from March to June — there has been no decrease, Army Radio adds.

Responding to the report, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit claims Defrin was only speaking about the last several months, though it doesn’t provide figures proving any drop in settler attacks.

The army does acknowledge, however, a rise in attacks this year overall and insists that it is not trying to provide an inaccurate picture to the press.