Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the spike in West Bank settler violence and appeared to send a warning to political rivals, including Defense Minister Israel Katz, on Sunday.
“We are in an election year, and we are witnessing a campaign offensive, both within Likud and outside of it,” he said during the cabinet meeting. “There is a constant barrage of tweets – ‘I said this, I did this, I updated this’ – including on matters related to national security. I remind everyone that these issues are coordinated with the prime minister, who is responsible for them.”
Katz has become well known for his many posts, particularly on security matters, leading to speculation that Netanyahu’s remarks were directed at him.
The recent spike in West Bank Jewish settler violence is a “phenomenon caused by a minority entering Judea and Samaria, which does not represent the large community of settlers who are law-abiding and loyal to the state,” Netanyahu said.
We will act with force to confront “the riots against IDF soldiers – against Palestinians and against IDF soldiers – because we are a nation of laws, and a nation of laws acts in accordance with the law,” he said.
Many violent incidents perpetrated by Israeli extremists have taken place recently amid this year’s olive harvest in the West Bank.
Violent incidents by West Bank extremist settlers
Last week, a group of Jewish settlers in the West Bank set fire to and vandalized a Palestinian mosque near Salfit, north of Ramallah. The IDF also detained multiple settlers for arson attacks on Palestinian vehicles, a factory, and agricultural land. Four Palestinians were hurt in the attacks.
Netanyahu also affirmed Israel’s opposition to a Palestinian state and his commitment to demilitarizing Hamas.
There has been a recent wave of statements from various MKs, calling on Netanyahu to clarify Israel’s stance regarding the establishment of a Palestinian state.
“Our opposition to a Palestinian state on any territory west of the Jordan River remains firm and unchanged,” Netanyahu said at the cabinet meeting.
“I have been pushing back against these attempts for decades, doing so in the face of pressure from abroad and from home,” he said. “So, I do not need reinforcements, tweets, or lectures from anyone.”
Netanyahu also said Gaza would be demilitarized, and that Hamas will be eliminated.
There will be “no such thing” as lack of demilitarization in the part of Gaza still held by Hamas, he said.
“In the 20-point plan ” for peace in Gaza proposed by US President Donald Trump, “and in every other framework, that area will be demilitarized, and Hamas will be dismantled, either the easy way or the hard way,” Netanyahu said, adding that Trump has expressed the same sentiments.
Last Friday, the US, Qatar, Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Jordan, and Turkey issued a joint statement, expressing support for a US-drafted UN Security Council resolution under consideration that would “offer a pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood.”
Additionally, a Palestinian state was mentioned in a UN Security Council draft last Thursday, discussing the International Security Force that is meant to govern Gaza.
Amichai Stein and Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.