‘Unjustifiable and intolerable’: IDF commander in West Bank condemns extremist settler attacks

The commander of the IDF’s regional brigade in the northern West Bank, in a missive to troops, condemns the recent attacks carried out by extremist Israeli settlers against Palestinians.

“In recent times, we have witnessed a sharp and significant increase in the number and severity of nationalist violent incidents in the brigade’s sector and throughout Judea and Samaria [the West Bank] in general,” says Col. Ariel Gonen, commander of the Samaria Regional Brigade.

“This is a grave, developing, and dangerous phenomenon that includes harm to uninvolved Palestinians, and at times even to the security forces themselves,” he writes.

“A fringe group of criminals and anarchists is taking the law into its own hands; these acts are unjustifiable and intolerable. This violence undermines the region’s security stability,” Gonen continues.

“The directive to soldiers and commanders is clear: Do not stand by. Every soldier and commander is required to act as much as possible to prevent acts of violence and nationalist crime,” he adds.

Yesterday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth condemned the settler attacks. No condemnations have been issued from senior government officials, including the prime minister or defense minister.