Israeli settler violence against Palestinians hits historic levels in the occupied West Bank

Key Concepts

• Israeli Settler Attacks: Acts of violence, arson, assault, and intimidation perpetrated by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
• Forcible Expulsion: The deliberate use of violence and intimidation by settlers to displace Palestinians from their lands.
• Area C: A designation in the Oslo Accords that encompasses 60% of the occupied West Bank, where Palestinians are almost never allowed to build.
• Coercive and Hostile Environment: The creation of conditions through aggression that make it untenable for Palestinians to remain on their land.
• Internally Displaced Bedouins: Palestinian Bedouin communities forced to leave their ancestral lands within the West Bank due to settler violence.
• Colonial Bureaucracy: The administrative structures of the Israeli occupation in the West Bank, including the Civil Administration and the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT).
• Ideological Settlers: Settlers motivated by religious or ideological beliefs, often linked to biblical narratives of land redemption.
• Unknown Perpetrators: A classification used by Israeli police to close investigations into settler violence, indicating a lack of accountability.
• Deterrence Power: The ability of international law and sanctions to prevent or punish violations.

Surge in Israeli Settler Attacks and Forcible Expulsion

Since October 2023, the UN has documented over 3,000 Israeli settler attacks against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. These attacks, including arson, assault, and intimidation, are described by Palestinians as strategic and aimed at forcibly expelling them from their lands. The attacks are particularly intense in areas where Palestinians are being displaced, creating a coercive and hostile environment. The ultimate goal, according to Palestinian experts, is not just settlement expansion but the expulsion of Palestinians, with an Israeli plan to transfer them abroad.

Case Study: Bedouin Communities

Several Bedouin communities have been forced to leave their lands in the past two years due to settler attacks. Some have been entirely displaced, while others face partial displacement or the constant threat of forcible expulsion. These communities are often located on the edges of towns and villages, and their removal pushes Palestinians into already overcrowded population centers, further disconnecting communities. Their presence in Area C, which constitutes 60% of the occupied West Bank and where Palestinians are rarely permitted to build, is seen as a barrier to illegal Israeli settlement expansion.

Personal Testimony: Muhammad Karabi

Eighty-year-old Muhammad Karabi and 27 other families were forced off lands they had inhabited for decades. Muhammad stated that it became too difficult to protect the children. They now reside on the outskirts of Alim village near Ramallah, having fled settler violence only to encounter it again. The situation is described as worsening, with the constant fear of demolition and ongoing harassment by settlers, including threats over their livestock. The pattern observed is that settler attacks cease only when Palestinians leave their land, which is seen as the explicit aim of the Israeli occupation.

Israeli Administration's Role and Funding of Settlements

Wii Habas, a researcher at the Palestinian Forum for Israeli Studies, argues that distinguishing between settlers and the Israeli administration is misleading. Israel occupies the West Bank and supervises settlement expansion. Crucially, hardcore ideological settlers are sponsored and funded by various Israeli ministries. A recent report by the Israeli human rights organization Yesh Din highlights that the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Heritage, Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Agriculture, and Ministry of Communication, in addition to the Ministry of Defense, directly fund Israeli outposts in the West Bank. This funding includes providing drones, road access, and infrastructure connections.

Legal and Bureaucratic Changes Facilitating Annexation

Two fundamental changes are noted regarding the legal framework:

1. Bureaucratic Shift: A change within the colonial bureaucracy governing the West Bank, specifically the Civil Administration and COGAT. Since early 2023, settlers have been integrated into the institutional meaning of civilians in the West Bank. Decisions regarding land classification, declaration of new settlements, and state land designations have shifted from the army to new institutions governed by settlers. This represents a fundamental change in the operational methods of the occupation.
2. Israeli Knesset's Stance: The Israeli Knesset's decision in July 2024 declared the territory between the river and the sea as Jewish territory, with no other political entity permitted. This indicates the Israeli government's distinct approach, irrespective of international law perspectives.

The settlers are driven by ideological and biblical views, viewing the redemption of land as a sacred mission. The individuals under assault are Palestinians whose land is being taken.

Statistics on Settler Violence and Lack of Accountability

• Demographics: The West Bank has approximately 3 million Palestinians and half a million settlers. Of these settlers, around 50,000 are considered "hardcore" and violent.
• Police Investigations: A report by Peace Now and B'Tselem indicates that in 2024, about 1,700 Israeli police investigations were opened for settler violence in the West Bank.
• Low Indictment Rate: Only 24% of these cases were closed without an indictment. Of the remaining 6%, many were also closed after an indictment was issued, under the pretext of "unknown perpetrators." This points to the complicity of the Israeli police, under the Ministry of National Security.

Consequences and International Inaction

Wii Habas states that international law has been largely disregarded since 1967, failing to act as a deterrent for Israel or its settlers. Even unprecedented sanctions from countries like the United States and the United Kingdom have had no effective impact on the ground. Without real deterrence or a strong international voice, Israel continues its actions.

The situation in the West Bank has significantly changed since October 7th. New outposts now occupy approximately 14% of the West Bank's total area, in addition to the existing 9% occupied by settlements. The international community is primarily engaged in recording, monitoring, and documenting these events without taking decisive action. This lack of intervention suggests disastrous and far-reaching consequences, as there is no space for two nations to coexist in the West Bank.

Conclusion

The transcript details a systematic and escalating campaign of violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, aimed at the forcible expulsion of Palestinians. This violence is facilitated and funded by the Israeli administration, with significant changes in bureaucratic structures and legal interpretations enabling settlement expansion and land annexation. Despite international condemnation and the clear violation of international law, a lack of effective deterrence and accountability mechanisms allows this pattern of aggression to continue, leading to the displacement of Palestinian communities and a worsening humanitarian situation.