Israeli Settler Leader Decries Violence, Blames Security Failures
Translated & summarized from Makor Rishon by baba
The annual olive harvest in Judea and Samaria has coincided with a sharp rise in violence, with terror incidents increasing significantly. Yisrael Gantz, head of the Binyamin Regional Council, blames security failures and a lack of military and police presence for provoking settler reactions. He condemned violence but defended self-defense when security forces are absent. The Yesha Council has launched an information hub to counter what it calls a deliberate misinformation campaign against Israeli settlers.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Olive harvest season in Judea and Samaria sees a surge in violence and terror incidents.
- Yisrael Gantz blames security failures for settler violence and self-defense actions.
- The number of terror incidents in the Binyamin region rose from 32 to 82 during the harvest.
- Gantz criticizes police and military for lack of presence and resources in flashpoint areas.
- Yesha Council launches information hub to counter alleged misinformation campaigns.
The annual olive harvest season in Judea and Samaria, particularly the Binyamin region, has seen a significant surge in friction and violence. Normally, only orchard owners are present during this time, but the harvest brings hundreds of villagers to the area, creating opportunities for clashes with nearby settlers. According to the Binyamin Regional Council's land division, the number of open-area terror incidents rose from 32 in the week before the harvest to 82 three weeks into the season.
Yisrael Gantz, Chairman of the Yesha Council and Head of the Binyamin Regional Council, expressed deep concern over the escalating violence, warning it is a symptom of a larger, planned issue potentially fueled by international actors. He noted the presence of dozens of individuals with photographers and Palestinian police at incident sites, suggesting a level of organization beyond spontaneous stone-throwing. Gantz also condemned an incident where masked youths accosted and injured a Washington Post photographer and foreign diplomats, though he questioned the full context of the event.
Gantz criticized the Israeli police and military for perceived inaction, stating that security forces are often absent from known flashpoints. He argued that the police lack the resources and training to handle such situations, and that the military is reluctant to transfer necessary personnel due to inter-service rivalries. He asserted that while settlers condemn irrelevant violence, they do not condemn acts of self-defense when the army and police fail to provide security.
He also addressed the issue of Jewish individuals engaging in violence, acknowledging that some settlers act without consulting rabbis and that certain halachic rulings have been misinterpreted. However, Gantz maintained that the primary issue is the lack of security presence, which he believes provokes such reactions. He stated, "I condemn anyone who runs wild, but I cannot and do not want to condemn someone who defends himself." He also rejected the division of the West Bank into Areas A, B, and C, advocating for Israeli presence and control throughout the region.
To combat what he described as a deliberate misinformation campaign, the Yesha Council has launched the JSR Information Hub. This center aims to collect, verify, and disseminate information in Hebrew and English to counter what they claim are false narratives spread by pro-Palestinian and anti-Semitic groups. Gantz believes this initiative is crucial to presenting the full picture to international decision-makers and the public, preventing the manipulation of events for political purposes.
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