Ministers take hours to condemn West Bank settler violence

Communications Minister Yoaz Hendel first minister to condemn the settler violence against left-wing Israeli activists and Palestinians.

 Israeli soldiers stand guard between Jewish settlers and Palestinians from the West Bank village of Burqah on December 23, 2021.  (photo credit: NASSER ISHTAYEH/FLASH90)
Israeli soldiers stand guard between Jewish settlers and Palestinians from the West Bank village of Burqah on December 23, 2021.
(photo credit: NASSER ISHTAYEH/FLASH90)

It took Israeli government ministers hours on Friday to condemn the violence in the Jewish violence in the West Bank when settlers - armed with batons, stones and a Molotov cocktail - attacked a group of Israelis and Palestinians near Burin.

The first minister to speak out was Communications Minister Yoaz Hendel who condemned the actions of the violent and masked settlers who violently attacked a group of left-wing Israeli activists and Palestinians near the village of Burin.

Two people were wounded when the group of masked men believed to be settlers armed with batons, stones and a Molotov cocktail attacked them near the village.

Foreign Minister Yair Lapid then condemned the action and said that "this reality could lead Israel to an abyss that it will not be able to pass." Lapid said that the police will work to apprehend the attackers.

IDF soldiers eventually managed to separate the sides and police were notified, but nobody was detained or questioned, according to media reports.