Attackers emboldened by government extremists
Dozens of masked Jewish settlers descended on the West Bank village of Jit and went on the rampage, torching homes, some with families still inside, and cars. They opened fire on villagers, say Palestinians, and were brandishing knives.
The attack could not come at a worse time in the middle of make-or-break talks over a ceasefire in Gaza.
The Israeli military says it was on the scene quickly but – from what we have seen from video taken at the time – not before a lot of damage was done. The village was literally set ablaze.
This is the latest in a series of settler attacks on Palestinian villages that seem to be increasing in severity.
The IDF says it’s investigating but in reality these attackers can act with impunity, very few are ever brought to justice.
The Israeli government has condemned the attack, but critics say extremist Jewish settlers are emboldened by some of them being appointed to high office within that government, running key departments like national security.
Its minister, Itamir Ben Gvir, is an extremist with a long list of convictions for anti-Arab racism and membership of extremist organisations.
This is the second time Jewish extremists have inflamed tensions in what is a crucial week.
Ben Gvir led a group of supporters on a provocative tour of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem on Tuesday that threatened the status quo over its use.
His own government was forced to reprimand him. His dangerous antics were roundly condemned by Israel’s allies. Ben Gvir and his movement are opposed to the creation of a Palestinian state.
They claim all of the land occupied by Israel as Jewish by divine right. They want the war in Gaza to go on and the Strip to be reoccupied.
Scenes of Jewish settlers inflaming tensions in the most sensitive site in the conflict – and now rampaging on the West Bank – play into the hands of Israel’s enemies. They show there are extremists on both sides trying to scupper the chances of peace.
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