Settlers are trying to drag Israel into war in the West Bank as well.
The number of attacks on Palestinians by settlers in the West Bank has increased since the war in the Gaza Strip began
In the wake of the attacks, IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari urged settlers not to “interfere with counter-terrorism efforts” and said that the responsibility for Israel’s security is “the army’s alone.” That is far from enough. There are cabinet members whose loyalty is above all to the settlement enterprise.
They and their partners in the governing coalition encouraged criminality and land theft and supported settler violence. The government and the man heading it, Benjamin Netanyahu, abandoned the Gaza border communities and left them defenseless, as the IDF provided security for every settler whim, whether the sukkah of Religious Zionism lawmaker Tzvi Yedidia Sukkot or settlers who wanted to pray at Joseph’s Tomb or at Mount Ebal. When people ask where the IDF was, part of the answer is: in the territories.
To stop them, sending the IDF spokesperson is not enough. The prime minister must show up in person and order them to stop jeopardizing Israel’s security.
It’s hard to believe Netanyahu will oust Religious Zionism from the government, since he is consumed by concern for his political survival. But if he allows the settlers’ rampage to continue, which will lead to the opening of another front, he will be responsible for another failure in his series of disastrous failures.
Law, Power, and Justice 
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