Israeli Defense Minister Highlights Drop in Palestinian Terror Attacks Amid Rising Settler Violence in West Bank

On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a security briefing at Central Command focusing on the escalating tensions in the West Bank. Defense Minister Israel Katz, along with IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, National Security Advisor, and other senior officials, reviewed the security situation, including a significant decline in Palestinian terror attacks and a dramatic increase in Israeli settlement activity.

Katz praised the IDF and Shin Bet for their efforts in reducing Palestinian terror incidents, noting that for the second consecutive year, attacks have fallen to unprecedented lows. According to the Institute for National Security Studies, Palestinian terror attacks dropped from 24 in May 2024 to just two in May 2026. Shin Bet data also showed a decrease in casualties among Israelis in the West Bank over the past year.

However, Katz did not address a critical factor contributing to the region's volatility: the surge in violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians. The INSS reported that Palestinian injuries from settler violence rose sharply from approximately 362 in 2024 to 832 in 2025, with 570 injuries already recorded in 2026. Human rights group Yesh Din highlighted a recent incident in the Palestinian village of Kusra, where settlers imposed a siege on seven Palestinians, including children, cutting off electricity and water and blocking exits. The IDF’s attempts to remove the siege were met with clashes with settlers.

Additional violent confrontations occurred in the village of Sa’ir, where settlers hiking without coordination with security forces were attacked by Palestinians, leading to IDF intervention and the death of a 17-year-old Palestinian shot by security personnel. The report also noted an increase in unauthorized settler outposts in Areas A and B of the West Bank, which correlates with the rise in settler violence documented by Yesh Din.

The briefing underscored the complex security challenges in the West Bank, balancing the reduction in Palestinian terror with the growing tensions and violence linked to expanding Israeli settlements and settler activities. The IDF continues to operate in these areas, but the situation remains volatile with ongoing clashes and humanitarian concerns for Palestinian residents.