Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has convened an emergency meeting of his security cabinet to address a sharp rise in violent attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
Cabinet Scrambles Amid Fresh Outbreak of Violence
The high-level meeting brought together officials from the military, the Shin Bet domestic security service, and the national police force. An Israeli official, speaking anonymously, confirmed the discussions focused on the recent spike in violence and potential measures to curb it.
This urgent governmental response follows a new incident in the West Bank village of Huwara, where Mayor Jihad Ouda reported that Israeli settlers hurled rocks at Palestinian vehicles. Shortly afterwards, a massive fire erupted at a nearby scrapyard, with social media footage showing flames lighting up the night sky and sending huge columns of smoke into the air.
The Israeli military stated it had received reports that Israelis started the blaze and confirmed that police have opened an investigation.
A Pattern of Unabated Attacks
According to the anonymous official, proposals discussed at the cabinet meeting included enrolling violent settlers in educational programmes. The Prime Minister's office did not immediately comment on the closed-door gathering, though the official indicated a follow-up meeting would be scheduled.
This wave of settler violence intensified during the Palestinian olive harvest season in October and early November and has continued since. While Netanyahu has previously described the perpetrators as "a handful of extremists" and urged law enforcement to pursue them, human rights groups and Palestinians contend the problem is systemic and far more widespread.
In a separate development, the Palestinian Health Ministry announced that two Palestinian youths, aged 16 and 18, were killed by Israeli gunfire overnight. The circumstances surrounding their deaths remain unclear.
International Condemnation and Sanctions
The situation has drawn international concern. On Friday, Singapore announced it would impose targeted financial sanctions and entry bans on four Israeli individuals for their alleged involvement in violence against Palestinians.
Singapore's Foreign Ministry named Meir Ettinger, Elisha Yered, Ben-Zion Gopstein, and Baruch Marzel, stating they have been involved in "egregious acts of extremist violence." The ministry further urged the Israeli government to hold perpetrators accountable, noting such actions "undermine and jeopardise prospects for a two-State solution."
This move aligns with sanctions previously enacted by the European Union and the United Kingdom. Data from the UN humanitarian office underscores the scale of the issue, recording a staggering 2,920 Israeli settler attacks between January and October this year.
The political context in Israel is also significant, with the government including far-right proponents of the settler movement such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir in key positions of power.
