The Settler Militia: How the IDF Arming Settlers Fuels Violence Against West Bank Palestinians

Under the cover of the Gaza war, violence in the West Bank has surged. Since the October 7 attack, the IDF has distributed thousands of weapons to settlers, further escalating an already volatile situation between them and the Palestinian population. While the initiative was intended to bolster security in the settlements, it has had an alarming side effect: armed Jewish extremists, some in partial uniforms, are terrorizing the Palestinian population. Police claim that nationalist crime is on the decline, but their statistics exclude incidents involving soldiers—and the IDF refuses to release any data. A Shomrim investigation

December 19, 2024