Last week, the Israeli security service Shin Bet warned of “Jewish terrorism” in the West Bank. – Terrorism is out of control and has become a serious threat to national security, wrote the head of the service, Ronen Bar, in a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Minister of Justice and several government members. He also said that the dam will cause “indescribable damage” to Vestbreidda. On Thursday, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) stood behind the warning. They added that the leaders in the Jewish settlements are doing little to prevent violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, which has increased ever since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. – I see this as an expression that the IDF is starting to get tired of taking responsibility for what they see as a significant rise in the level of conflict, says special adviser Hanne Eggen Røislien in the Defense Staff. Hanne Eggen Røislien. Photo: Ruth Synnøve Barsten / news The raid in Jit The response from the IDF came the day after they published findings from an investigation into the raid on the Palestinian village of Jit, north of the occupied West Breidda. On the night of August 16, more than 100 Israeli settlers stormed the village and vandalized it, throwing Molotov cocktails and stones, and setting several cars and houses on fire. Residents of the village describe the attack as well organized. They told Reuters that the settlers must have tear gas, pepper spray, knives and weapons. 28-year-old Rashid Sadah was killed in the attack. Palestinians hang up a poster with a picture and name to honor the 23-year-old who was killed when Israeli settlers stormed the village of Jit in the occupied West Bank. Photo: Nasser Nasser / AP The UN human rights office called the attack horrific, while the foreign minister in Great Britain, David Lammy, called it abhorrent. – This was a very serious terrorist incident where Israelis aimed to harm the inhabitants of the city of Jit. We failed by not succeeding in coming forward earlier to protect them, said Major General Avi Bluth when the IDF presented its investigation of the attack on Wednesday. – When the further settlers now push on as we see in this attack in Jit, it puts the IDF in a tight spot. They are tasked with protecting all settlers, including those on the outskirts, a task they believe goes beyond the task of ensuring the safety of all Israelis. After all, they see that the violence the residents are now carrying on escalates the situation and threatens national security, says Røislien. Talk in the leadership Some of the members of the Israeli government are outspoken supporters of the settlers who are now involved in escalating the violence against Palestinians in the occupied territories. This week it became clear that the US is expanding the sanctions against Israeli settlers who have been behind attacks against Palestinians in the West Bank. And the head of foreign affairs in the EU, Josep Borrell, asks the EU to consider punitive measures against two Israeli ministers. After a meeting on Thursday, he did not use specific names, but he has repeatedly criticized the Israeli security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, and finance minister Bezalel Smotrich. He blames them for saying things that he calls “horrible” and “an incitement to war crimes”. Published 31.08.2024, at 15.33
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The Israeli Defense Forces warns against “Jewish terrorism” in the West Bank – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
