The West Bank, among the territories where Palestinians seek statehood, has experienced a surge of violence in recent months.
It’s curious how the “settler violence,” rare and infrequent especially in relation to the daily Palestinian terrorism – justifies the attention and repeated mention of the US president.
According to the United Nations, eight Palestinians, including one child, have been killed by settlers in the West Bank.
Netanyahu recalled that after the IDF withdrew from Gaza in 2005, it handed it over to the PA, which was then ousted by Hamas in a violent coup in 2007.
As the war in Gaza enters its 2nd month, Netanyahu’s messianic and ultranationalist partners are working to tighten their grip on the West Bank, expand their settlements, and drive Palestinians out.
He issued his statement after meeting with settler leaders from the Yesha Council on Wednesday night and two days after he spoke with US President Joe Biden.
"It is absurd that the policy has not changed," Smotrich lamented. "This is insanity which I will not abide by."
Since Oct. 7, more than 100 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank have been killed, mostly by soldiers but also by settlers.
Yossi Dagan, the Head of the Samaria Regional Council, said the shooting was an act of self-defense during a life-threatening attack.
According to the United Nations Office of the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, there have been 146 settler attacks against Palestinians.