Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the Jewish rioters who attacked IDF reservists in the West Bank between Friday night and Saturday morning, and called for accountability.
"The State of Israel is a country governed by law, and no one is allowed to take the law into their own hands," he stressed, calling for a thorough investigation.
He added that the suspects represent "a small minority that does not reflect the overwhelming majority of settlers, who respect the law and serve in the IDF and security forces."
Earlier, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir and Defense Minister Israel Katz both condemned the attacks on IDF troops.
"The undermining of the rule of law and the use of violence by an extremist minority harms security and stability in the area," the IDF wrote in a statement.
Israel Katz slams rioters who harm IDF soldiers
Zamir spoke with the commander of Battalion 7114 as well as the commander of the Binyamin Brigade.
"Our mission in this sector is to thwart terrorism. Violent riots harm our ability to carry out this mission — maintaining daily life, protecting the settlements and residents, and preventing terror," Zamir said.
"There is a wonderful, law-abiding community here, and actions like these by a group of extremists primarily harm the population, undermine security in the area, and divert our forces from their primary mission. If this violence and extremism are not dealt with decisively and systematically, it could end in disaster," Zamir stressed.
Katz called on "law enforcement authorities to act immediately to locate anyone who resorted to violence and bring them to justice.
"The State of Israel will not allow violence and those taking the law into their own hands, and will not allow harm to IDF soldiers who are courageously fighting against Palestinian terrorism in Judea and Samaria and protecting the security of the settlers day and night," he said.
President Isaac Herzog stressed that violence of any kind, especially when directed at IDF soldiers and security personnel while performing their duties, is a red line that must not be crossed and must be unequivocally and clearly condemned. Herzog called for a thorough investigation and for those who broke the law to be held fully accountable.
"There is no justification for violence against those who dedicate their lives to defending the security of the state," Herzog said.
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid described the incident as "extremely serious."
"The extremists who attack IDF soldiers guarding Israel's security during these difficult days are dangerous criminals who aid our enemies. The security forces must bring these offenders to justice swiftly," he added.
Not a small minority group
Democrats party chair Yair Golan questioned whether Israel is moving from a Jewish and democratic state towards a violent and messianic Kahanist state in a post on X, condemning the attacks, and disputing Netanyahu's claim that these violent extremists represent a small minority.
"It may not make the headlines, but the most serious existential threat to the State of Israel does not come from Iran or Yemen. It comes from within," he said. "The Kahanist, nationalist, and fanatic Israel is deliberately working to dismantle the Jewish and democratic Israel."
"Its people do not hesitate to use violence against the innocent, to attack IDF soldiers, police officers, and fighters who protect the very communities from which these rioters emerge to carry out acts of Jewish terrorism. This is not a marginal phenomenon. It is a dangerous current that has taken deep root, even around the government table.
"Israel stands at a crossroads: Will we remain a Jewish and democratic state, secure and strong, or will we continue to slide into a violent and messianic Kahanist state, isolated and corrupt? Those who attack IDF soldiers are neither Zionist, nor patriotic, nor Jewish."