Israeli Ambassador Leiter Condemns Violence in West Bank as Contrary to Settling the Land Commandment

Israeli Ambassador to the United States Dr. Yechiel Leiter linked the recent violence in the West Bank village of Kusra to a misinterpretation of the biblical commandment to settle the Land of Israel. Speaking in the context of the weekly Torah portion Shoftim, Leiter emphasized that settling the land is not merely about building homes or cultivating the soil, but also requires establishing a society grounded in justice, morality, and the rule of law.

Leiter cited the verse "Judges and officers you shall appoint in all your gates... and judge the people with righteous judgment," highlighting that the sages of Israel viewed a just legal system as integral to the mission of settling the land. He stressed that while building communities is important, Jewish life in Israel carries a profound moral dimension, linking the right to a national home with the responsibility to create a worthy society.

Referring to the Kusra incidents, Leiter condemned the violent acts as destabilizing and unjustified, noting that such behavior diverts military and law enforcement resources and distorts the true meaning of settling the land. He echoed U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Herzog’s description of the events as "unsettling behavior." Leiter concluded by asserting that the Land of Israel is not only a place to inhabit but a place where life must be conducted according to justice.