Israeli Think Tank Declares Jewish Terrorism a Strategic Threat

The Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) has identified the rise of Jewish nationalist violence in Judea and Samaria as a strategic threat to Israel's security and legal system. In a report released on September 15, 2026, the INSS authors used the terms "Jewish terrorism" and "nationalist crime," asserting that the inefficiency of law enforcement diverts IDF forces from other duties and weakens state institutions.

According to INSS data, the first half of 2026 saw 660 incidents of nationalist crime, a 63% increase from the latter half of 2025 and a 50% rise compared to the same period last year. The report states that actions attributed to Jewish terrorism resulted in the deaths of six Palestinians and injuries to 140 others during this period. Additionally, 45 clashes or attacks involving settlers and security forces were recorded, a roughly 36% annual increase.

UN data, calculated differently, reported over 1,600 settler attacks causing casualties or property damage between January and August 2026, averaging nearly seven incidents daily. The INSS report also highlighted low investigation success rates, noting that from 2005 to 2025, approximately 94% of ideologically motivated crime cases involving Israelis in Judea and Samaria were closed without indictments, with only about 3% leading to convictions.

To address these issues, the researchers proposed establishing a permanent inter-agency task force involving the IDF, police, Shin Bet, the Civil Administration, and the prosecution. They also recommended increased state oversight of local armed units and stricter enforcement of restraining orders. The INSS believes the burden on the IDF's Central Command is already impacting its ability to perform other operational tasks. Experts also called for action against illegal outposts in Area B, where at least 26 new sites have emerged in the past 2.5 years, according to Peace Now.

The issue of violence by radical settlers has been a recurring subject of public debate in Israel.