Signaling a possible US policy shift, the Biden administration on Tuesday condemned both Palestinian and Jewish extremist violence as unrest rocked the West Bank in the aftermath of Sunday’s terrorist shooting at Tapuah junction.
Two 19-year-old yeshiva students remained in serious condition at Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Campus in Petah Tikva.
“We condemn the shooting attack on innocent civilians in the West Bank yesterday, as well as reported retaliatory attacks, and wish the victims a quick recovery. Terror and violence solve nothing,” the US Embassy in Jerusalem tweeted on Monday.
It condemned a spike in West Bank violence since Sunday that included Jewish extremist attacks against Palestinians and their property and violent clashes between Palestinians and the IDF.
The embassy’s words were in keeping with the Biden administration’s pattern of statements that speak broadly of Israeli and Palestinian behavior without unduly singling out either side. This has typically included statements about a two-state resolution of the conflict. That approach has now been applied to West Bank violence.
In contrast, the Trump administration solely condemned Palestinian terrorism.
Former US special envoy Jason Greenblatt, who served during the Trump administration, tweeted about the difference in tone.
“We issued full-throated condemnations of terrorism & full-throated support of Israel’s right to defend itself without ever using ‘balancing language,’” he wrote on Tuesday.
Jewish extremists continued to harass Palestinians while the IDF hunts for the Tapuah junction terrorist, according to left-wing NGO Yesh Din. Jews attacked two Palestinians and vandalized property in three separate incidents late Monday night and early Tuesday morning, it said.
“According to testimonies, at around midnight, near the town of Turmus Aiya [near Ramallah], a Palestinian vehicle was attacked with stones, and a passenger sitting inside was evacuated for medical treatment,” Yesh Din said.
In addition, “a Palestinian vehicle was attacked with stones on Route 60, near the village of Madama, and the owner of the vehicle was injured. He was assisted from the vehicle by Madama residents and evacuated for medical treatment,” it said.
Jewish extremists vandalized a Palestinian greenhouse in Burin, uprooting tomato seedlings, cutting its water system and damaging tools, Yesh Din said.
“The lives of Palestinians and their property continue to be treated as a zone of impunity where violent settlers continue to enjoy no consequences for their violent acts,” Yesh Din executive director Lior Amihai said. “The rioters want to sow terror and expel the Palestinians from their land,” he added.
On Monday, Yesh Din reported overnight violence by Jewish extremists and/or settlers against Palestinian property in the West Bank village of Jalud. Clashes also erupted between Jalud residents and the IDF when it responded to the violence. Ten Palestinians who participated in the clashes were arrested, it said.