Netanyahu condemns violence by “small group” of settlers in West Bank

• Netanyahu condemned a settler attack on the Palestinian village of Al-Jaba'a near Bethlehem, saying the violence was carried out by a "small extremist group"

‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Monday the settlers who attacked a village in the West Bank this evening.

In a statement from his office, Netanyahu claims he sees the attack with the “utmost severity”.

He also says it was carried out by a “small extremist group”.

“I view the violent riots and the attempt to take the law into one’s own hands by a small extremist group – which does not represent the settlers in Judea and Samaria — with utmost severity,” he said in the statement, using the ‘Israeli’ term for the West Bank.

Netanyahu called “to apply the full weight of the law to the rioters,” adding: “I intend to address this personally and convene the relevant ministers as soon as possible in order to respond to this serious phenomenon.”

“I express my support for the IDF and the security forces, who will continue to act firmly and without fear to maintain order,” he concludes.

Homes and vehicles were torched and vandalised in the Palestinian village of Al-Jaba'a near Bethlehem in the West Bank on Monday evening after demonstrators earlier clashed with security forces dismantling an illegal settler outpost in the same area.

The attack on Al-Jaba'a was a reaction to the dismantling of a nearby Jewish outpost by ‘Israeli’ security forces.

Hours earlier, hundreds of police and army personnel used bulldozers to dismantle the illegal outpost, named Tzur Masghavi, located in the Gush Etzion settlement bloc south of Jerusalem. Clashes erupted during the dismantling, with soldiers firing smoke and stun grenades.

Opposition Labels Attacks 'Terrorism'

The attack in Al-Jaba'a was condemned by opposition figures. Opposition leader Yair Lapid denounced the incident as a "new phase of escalating violence" carried out by "violent criminals who it is time to deal with resolutely."

Leftist Democratic Party leader Yair Golan lamented what he called "Jewish terrorism... that is out of control."

‘Israel’ has occupied the West Bank since 1967, and the territory has seen an escalation in violence since the war on Gaza began.

Under international law, settlements are considered illegal, and much of the international community views them as a major obstacle to peace between ‘Israel’ and Palestine.

‘Israeli’ authorities, however, distinguish between settlements they recognize and illegal outposts, such as Tzur Masghavi.