Settler terrorism has become the norm in the West Bank

You might be forgiven for wondering what is the point of repeatedly warning about injustices that take place repeatedly in the same place, perpetrated by the same people against the same other people, and condemning them when hardly anyone in a position of power is prepared to put their head above the parapet and make their voice and influence count.

This is the case with the constant increase in violence by Israeli settlers which, for the sake of accuracy, we should describe as what it is: terrorism.

The simple answer to the question is that although for now it might seem like the warnings and condemnation fall on deaf ears, the sheer scale, intensity and brazenness of the violations are increasing and have become systemic, and so they must be highlighted, loud and clear.

Events since Oct. 7, 2023, have resulted in a war on several fronts — including, most recently, a 40-day US-Israeli conflict with Iran that was halted by a ceasefire agreement this week — and as a result, developments in the West Bank have been almost completely sidelined, or at least relegated, in the hierarchy of international concern.

Gaza, Iran, Lebanon and Ukraine are at the forefront of people’s minds, not to mention domestic issues such as the cost of living and migration. Nevertheless, while ignoring the entrenchment of the occupation of the West Bank and the settler violence might be convenient in the short term, it is immoral and also dangerous. It cannot and should not be divorced from the other fronts on which Israel is engaged, and above all from the extremely fragile situation in Gaza where, despite the so-called ceasefire, hundreds of Palestinian civilians have still been killed since the truce was called.

For many Israelis, what is taking place in the West Bank is of little or no interest. They remain largely oblivious to how it will affect future relations with the Palestinians, with countries that have already normalized relations with Israel or are considering doing so, or to the country’s already declining international image.

Moreover, it has become apparent that among the more extreme elements of the nearly 740,000 Jewish settlers in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank, there has emerged a segment, by no means small, that is religious, messianic and, above all, dismissive of the rule of law.

They do not respect the authority of either the Israeli government or the Palestinian Authority, and show little regard for the principals of international law or human rights. They have developed a repugnant supremacist ideology, which the vast majority of Israeli Jews, including many of their fellow settlers, do not share.

To these supremacists, the entirety of Historic Palestine belongs to the Jewish people, and Palestinians should not be allowed to enjoy any national or political rights — and in many cases not even basic human rights. Their ultimate goal is the annexation of the West Bank, with as few Palestinians remaining there as possible, through the expansion of settlements, thereby increasing the Jewish population, and, in parallel, “encouraging” Palestinians to leave.

Part of this “encouragement” involves the use of violence, acts of terror against the local population designed to make life unbearable. In its most recent report, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stated that “violence across the West Bank continues to claim lives and deepen people’s needs,” whether perpetrated by the security forces or settlers.

Following the start of the recent escalation involving Iran in late February, there were more than 150 attacks by settlers in the space of a month, affecting about 90 communities, an average of more than six attacks per day. 

For many Israelis, what is taking place in the West Bank is of little or no interest.

Yossi Mekelberg

While global attention has been focused elsewhere, these settlers have acted opportunistically. As a consequence, nearly 1,700 Palestinians have been displaced in this short period alone, alongside military restrictions on access. To put the pace of the deterioration into perspective, less than three months into 2026 this figure had already surpassed the total number of Palestinians displaced during the whole of 2025.

This is precisely the outcome these extremist settlers seek: the gradual emptying of Palestinian communities. Once vacated, these areas provide opportunities for the establishment of new settler outposts, regardless of formal government approval; often there is the expectation that they will eventually be connected to infrastructure and legalized under Israeli law.

Needless to say, none of these settlements are considered legal under international law. The International Court of Justice has ruled the occupation itself unlawful and called for it to end. What we are witnessing, therefore, is illegality compounded by further illegality and enforced through violence.

Attacks on Palestinians are becoming increasingly severe: civilians killed or injured; the burning of homes, cars and fields; destruction of property; theft of livestock; and random assaults.

Reports by the media and human rights organizations point to a clear pattern: Settlers, sometimes wearing military uniforms, enter communities, harass residents and attempt to drive them out permanently. They increasingly operate like militias, whether through coordinated action or ad hoc initiatives, often with complete impunity.

While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for his own political convenience and to avoid alienating pro-settler figures in his coalition, remains largely silent on the issue settler violence, and the opposition has not prioritized the issue, it has fallen to the Israeli military’s chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, to condemn it. He described such acts “morally and ethically unacceptable,” and a threat to security.

Yet there are numerous documented cases of soldiers either escorting armed settlers or turning a blind eye as they attack Palestinian towns and villages, and herd communities. In such circumstances, Palestinians risk arrest or even being shot if they attempt to defend themselves.

It is within the power of the military leadership to issue clear orders, enforce discipline, hold perpetrators accountable and remove offenders from the West Bank for prosecution. However, such steps have not been taken, decisively, perhaps reflecting a reluctance to confront a political leadership that is at best indifferent to the issue, and at worst sympathetic to or even encouraging it.

One can only wonder how the government believes that allowing extremist groups to break the law and terrorize a population, the security of which it is responsible for, can possibly serve Israel’s interests. It is equally astonishing that such activity continues largely unchecked.

The international community, particularly those countries with close political, diplomatic and economic ties to Israel, must also answer for this inaction. Sanctioning a small number of settlers and their political patrons has not altered the situation; if anything, it has worsened.

In the absence of any meaningful response — both within Israeli society, particularly among those who support peaceful coexistence with the Palestinians, and from the international community — these morally reprehensible and politically damaging activities will not go away, and they know this.

• Yossi Mekelberg is professor of international relations and an associate fellow of the MENA Program at Chatham House.

X: @YMekelbergv