Latest news with #BinyaminRegionalBrigade
France 24
02-07-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Israel far right issues rare rebuke of settler attack on army
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, considered the two most hardline members of the ruling coalition, called for the perpetrators to be held accountable. The army said dozens of "civilians" attacked its forces on Sunday night at a military base in the central West Bank, vandalising army vehicles and a security installation. According to Israeli media, the attackers were settlers who targeted the commander of the military's Binyamin Regional Brigade, calling him a "traitor". The attack was widely seen as a reprisal for the arrest of six settlers two days earlier. In that incident, the commander and troops were attacked as they tried to stop settlers entering a closed military zone near the Palestinian village of Kafr Malik. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned both attacks, saying "no law-abiding country can tolerate acts of violence and anarchy". Ben Gvir was among the last senior figures to react. "Harming our security forces, security installations and the soldiers who are our children, brothers and defenders, crosses a red line, and must be treated with the utmost severity," he wrote on X. A lawyer, Ben Gvir gained a name for himself before entering politics by defending in court several settlers accused of attacking Palestinians in the West Bank. Smotrich wrote on X: "Violence against (Israeli) soldiers and our beloved police forces and the destruction of property are unacceptable." West Bank violence Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967 and violence has surged there since Israel launched its offensive in Gaza following Hamas's October 2023 attack. Since then, Israeli troops or settlers in the West Bank have killed at least 947 Palestinians -- many of them militants, but also scores of civilians -- according to Palestinian health ministry figures. At least 35 Israelis, including both civilians and security forces, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or Israeli military operations, according to Israeli official figures. But settler attacks on army positions are rare. "It was too much, even for the far-right," said Simon Perry, a security expert and associate professor in the criminology department at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. "The rioters went overboard," he told AFP. Nimrod Goren, an expert on foreign relations and a veteran commentator on Israeli politics, said the far-right's outrage at the assault was merely "lip service", however. Violent assaults by Israeli settlers against Palestinians have become common since 2023, without drawing any criticism from the political class, he noted. "But when soldiers are affected, all of a sudden people are alerted," said Goren, who is chairman of the Israeli foreign policy think tank Mitvim. Settlers' eviction drive According to the two Israeli experts, the rioters were part of an informal movement known as the hilltop youth, whose goal is to evict Palestinian residents and establish settlements in the West Bank without government approval. The movement constitutes a fringe, even among the Religious Zionist movement, the ideological backbone of the settlement enterprise. Several human rights NGOs have denounced the rise in violence committed by the settlers, and their perceived impunity. Shortly after his appointment in November 2024, Defence Minister Israel Katz announced an end to administrative detention for West Bank settlers, a practice that allows security forces to detain suspects without charge. Israeli media say the move embolded extremist settlers and led to a wave of attacks in the Palestinian territory. On Tuesday, the Israeli press reported that Katz would not bring it back, contrary to the opinion of Israel's Shin Bet security service. The measure is still in place for Palestinians. The recent settler violence against army positions in the West Bank even prompted condemnation from leaders within the movement. "Those who wish to protest must act according to the law and not confront the army," Oded Revivi, a former mayor of the Efrat settlement, and a prominent settler figure, told AFP. There are around 160 Israeli settlements scattered throughout the West Bank, which the UN considers illegal. Their residents number about 500,000, living among a population of three million Palestinians.
The Hindu
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Israelis attack soldiers in occupied West Bank
Israeli civilians assaulted security forces and vandalised military vehicles and a security installation outside an army base overnight in the occupied West Bank, the military said on Monday (June 30, 2025). According to Israeli media, settlers targeted the commander of the Binyamin Regional Brigade base in the central West Bank, calling him a "traitor". The officer was among troops attacked on Friday night as they tried to stop settlers entering a closed military zone near the Palestinian village of Kafr Malik, following a settler attack that killed at least three Palestinans. Six civilians were arrested following clashes. "Dozens of Israeli civilians gathered at the entrance" of the brigade's base on Sunday evening, the military said in a statement. "The gathering became violent and some of the civilians at the scene attacked the security forces, sprayed pepper spray at them, and vandalized military vehicles," it added. "The IDF (military), police, and border guards intervened to disperse the gathering," the statement added, noting one Israeli citizen was injured in the confrontation. In another statement a few hours later, the army said that "Israeli civilians set fire to and vandalized a security site containing systems that contribute to thwarting terrorist attacks" near the base. Various coalition government leaders condemned the incident. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that "No law-abiding country can tolerate acts of violence and anarchy such as the burning of a military facility". He demanded a swift investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz called a meeting of all security agencies on Monday (June 30, 2025) to discuss the incident, his office said in a statement. Praising Israeli soldiers' dedication since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, he said the government "will not allow any violent fringe group to harm them". Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich condemned the incident as "unacceptable" in a statement on X, while praising settlements in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967. "Such events are unacceptable... and those responsible must be brought to justice," he wrote. Several human rights NGOs have denounced the rise in violence committed by West Bank settlers and their perceived impunity.
Straits Times
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Israelis attack soldiers in occupied West Bank
Israeli army forces deploy around the religious site of Joseph's Tomb in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus on June 27. PHOTO: AFP JERUSALEM - Israeli civilians assaulted security forces and vandalised military vehicles and a security installation outside an army base overnight in the occupied West Bank, the military said on June 30. According to Israeli media, settlers targeted the commander of the Binyamin Regional Brigade base in the central West Bank, calling him a 'traitor'. The officer was among troops attacked on June 27 night as they tried to stop settlers entering a closed military zone near the Palestinian village of Kafr Malik, following a settler attack that killed at least three Palestinans. Six civilians were arrested following clashes. 'Dozens of Israeli civilians gathered at the entrance' of the brigade's base on June 29 evening, the military said in a statement. 'The gathering became violent and some of the civilians at the scene attacked the security forces, sprayed pepper spray at them, and vandalized military vehicles,' it added. 'The IDF (military), police, and border guards intervened to disperse the gathering,' the statement added, noting one Israeli citizen was injured in the confrontation. In another statement a few hours later, the army said that 'Israeli civilians set fire to and vandalised a security site containing systems that contribute to thwarting terrorist attacks' near the base. Various coalition government leaders condemned the incident. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that 'No law-abiding country can tolerate acts of violence and anarchy such as the burning of a military facility'. He demanded a swift investigation and prosecution of the perpetrators. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz called a meeting of all security agencies June 30 to discuss the incident, his office said in a statement. Praising Israeli soldiers' dedication since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023, he said the government 'will not allow any violent fringe group to harm them'. Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich condemned the incident as 'unacceptable' in a statement on X, while praising settlements in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967. 'Such events are unacceptable ... and those responsible must be brought to justice,' he wrote. Several human rights NGOs have denounced the rise in violence committed by West Bank settlers and their perceived impunity. Violence has escalated in the West Bank since the start of the Gaza war, triggered by the attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas on Israel on Oct 7, 2023. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Sun
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Israelis attack soldiers in occupied West Bank
JERUSALEM: Israeli civilians assaulted security forces and vandalised military vehicles and a security installation outside an army base overnight in the occupied West Bank, the military said on Monday. According to Israeli media, settlers targeted the commander of the Binyamin Regional Brigade base in the central West Bank, calling him a 'traitor'. The officer was among troops attacked on Friday night as they tried to stop settlers entering a closed military zone near the Palestinian village of Kafr Malik. Six civilians were arrested following the clashes. 'Dozens of Israeli civilians gathered at the entrance' of the brigade's base on Sunday evening, the military said in a statement Monday. 'The gathering became violent and some of the civilians at the scene attacked the security forces, sprayed pepper spray at them, and vandalized military vehicles,' it added. 'The IDF (military), police, and border guards intervened to disperse the gathering,' the statement added, noting one Israeli citizen was injured in the confrontation. In another statement a few hours later, the army said that 'Israeli civilians set fire to and vandalized a security site containing systems that contribute to thwarting terrorist attacks' near the base. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar strongly condemned 'any violence against the IDF and security forces'. 'Such events are unacceptable, and offenders must be severely punished,' he wrote on X. 'The IDF and security forces work day and night to protect the citizens of Israel and ensure its security. We must support them, not hinder their activities, and under no circumstances attack them,' he added. Bezalel Smotrich, Israel's far-right finance minister, a staunch supporter of the settlements who calls for the annexation of the West Bank, also condemned the violence against security forces and the destruction of property, saying a 'red line' had been crossed. In a post on X, he urged the police to investigate the incident and bring those responsible to justice. Several human rights NGOs have denounced the rise in violence committed by settlers in the West Bank and their perceived impunity. Violence has escalated in the West Bank since the start of the Gaza war, triggered by the attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
30-06-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Israel admits West Bank settlers torched military base, minister says ‘criminals cross a red line'
Tensions have risen in. the West Bank after Israeli settlers rampaged through a Palestinian village last week. In the days since, several confrontations have erupted between extremist settlers and Israeli security personnel read more Maale Adumim is a Jewish settlement in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where over 400,000 Israelis live alongside 2.6 million Palestinians. (Photo: Reuters) Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Monday (June 30) he would convene an 'urgent meeting' with senior security officials following a string of violent attacks by Jewish settlers against Israeli troops and installations in the occupied West Bank. 'This phenomenon must be put to an immediate end. We will take all necessary measures and completely uproot this violence. No one will dare raise a hand against IDF soldiers and members of the security forces,' Katz said in a statement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Tensions have risen in the West Bank after Israeli settlers rampaged through a Palestinian village last week. In the days since, several confrontations have erupted between extremist settlers and Israeli security personnel, culminating in a riot outside an army base overnight. According to the Israeli military, civilians assaulted troops, sprayed them with pepper spray and vandalised military vehicles near the Binyamin Regional Brigade base on Sunday night. Some of the same individuals are believed to have attacked troops on Friday when they attempted to prevent settlers from entering a closed military zone near Kafr Malik, a Palestinian village in the central West Bank. 'Dozens of Israeli civilians gathered at the entrance' of the brigade's base, the military said in a statement. 'The gathering became violent and some of the civilians at the scene attacked the security forces, sprayed pepper spray at them, and vandalized military vehicles.' Security forces, including police and border guards, intervened to disperse the crowd. One Israeli civilian was injured during the incident, the statement added. Later, the army reported that settlers had 'set fire to and vandalized a security site containing systems that contribute to thwarting terrorist attacks' near the same base. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar condemned the violence, writing on X: 'Such events are unacceptable, and offenders must be severely punished.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'The IDF and security forces work day and night to protect the citizens of Israel and ensure its security. We must support them, not hinder their activities, and under no circumstances attack them.' Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a far-right politician and strong supporter of the settlement movement, also denounced the attacks. In a statement on X, he said a 'red line' had been crossed and called for a police investigation. Human rights organisations have long criticised what they describe as a pattern of impunity for settler violence in the West Bank, which has surged since the war in Gaza began on 7 October 2023 following a deadly Hamas attack on Israel. With inputs from agencies
