NEW YORK August 29. 2024 (Saba) - The New York Times has highlighted a significant increase in violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, with reports indicating 1,270 attacks on Palestinians according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
The newspaper noted that this surge in settler violence has intensified during the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has lasted approximately 11 months.
The escalation in violence by settlers is viewed by some military leaders as a threat to Israeli "national security."
Despite this, the Israeli military's response to settler violence has reportedly been subdued compared to its operations against Palestinian militants.
The New York Times also pointed out that many incidents of settler violence have received insufficient attention.
Recent reports from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs revealed that settlers carried out over 30 attacks in the past week alone, resulting in the death of one Palestinian, injuries to 11 others, and extensive property damage.
In a recent letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ronen Bar, head of the Shin Bet internal security service, labeled settler violence as a significant threat to "national security."
Similarly, Major General Yehuda Fuchs, in his farewell address as head of the “Zionist Central Command” in July, condemned settler violence as “national crimes” that jeopardize Israel’s security.
The international community has also taken note of the situation. Former French ambassador Gérard Araud described the settler attacks and land seizures as "outrageous" and tantamount to "ethnic cleansing."
In response to these actions, countries such as Japan, Australia, and Canada imposed sanctions on Israeli entities involved in the violence against Palestinians last July.
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