Israeli security chiefs vow crackdown on settler ‘terrorism’
- Settlers torched at least two homes in the Palestinian village Umm Safa near Ramallah, amid a surge of violence over the past week in the West Bank.
- Israel says it will step up security in the area and enhance arrests, including ‘administrative detention’ in which suspects can be held without charge
Israeli security chiefs on Saturday designated settler attacks on Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank as “nationalist terrorism” that merited stepped-up countermeasures, and their remarks drew anger from far-right cabinet ministers.
A surge of violence over the past week in the West Bank included rampages by scores of Israeli settlers on Palestinian towns and villages that drew international condemnation and concern from the White House.
Defence Minister Yoav Gallant condemned the attack.
In a joint statement, Israel’s military, police and domestic security service chiefs said the settlers’ actions amounted to “nationalist terrorism” which they pledged to fight.
The military will boost its forces in the area to prevent such violence, they said, and the Shin Bet domestic security service would enhance arrests, including “administrative detention” in which suspects can be held without charge.
That practice is largely used by Israel against Palestinian security suspects and is denounced by rights groups.
The statement drew sharp rebuke by two members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s nationalist-religious government.