By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Recently, Jewish settlers in the West Bank have turned violent, targeting Israeli soldiers and vandalizing military sites. These actions are a response to the Israeli Defence Forces’ efforts to curb attacks on Palestinians. On Sunday, a protest turned violent with settlers attacking security forces, damaging vehicles, and setting fire to equipment, while on Friday, soldiers enforcing a closed military zone were attacked with stones. The escalating violence, marked by the spray-painting of “revenge” on a military site, highlights the breakdown of law and order and the increasing frequency of settlers clashing with Israeli security forces.
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Jewish settlers turning on Israeli soldiers who were trying to stop raids on West Bank Palestinians, that’s what we are talking about here. This situation sounds unbelievably complex and yet, reading the comments, a very clear, albeit disturbing, picture starts to emerge. It seems that some of these settlers, whom some commenters label as “fanatics” or even “terrorists,” have become a significant problem, even for the very soldiers meant to protect them and maintain order. The fact that they are reportedly attacking their own soldiers is a shocking escalation, a sign that the situation is unraveling and lawlessness is taking hold.
It’s almost unbelievable that settlers would turn on their own military. Several people pointed out the blatant hypocrisy in the situation. The same people complaining about their treatment are the ones who have the resources to destroy others. This behavior highlights a fundamental disconnect with established rules of the state. These actions, according to some, are simply not raids, but more akin to “lynchings.” This is not the behavior that any legitimate government should tolerate, regardless of the circumstances. This is not what the IDF should be doing.
Many people seem to be very angry with the settlers. The question of why the difference in treatment is brought up. This double standard is a huge source of frustration. Some people have a lot of disdain for the settlers. The comments regarding them being “illegal immigrants AND terrorists” are extreme, but they reflect the sentiment that this behavior is utterly unacceptable. The fact that some settlers appear to be defying the authorities, even attacking them, indicates a dangerous erosion of order, a complete breakdown of respect for the law.
We’re seeing some people claim that the settlers are an extension of the Israeli government and that they are doing the “dirty work” the government doesn’t want to do. This is a very serious accusation, and it certainly paints a picture of the government supporting actions they do not want to be associated with. Some people think these settlers are extremist terrorist factions living among sane and sensible settler communities. They believe these groups are crossing so many lines that even right-wingers and some far-right call them out for being terrorists. It paints a picture of a society deeply fractured, with little trust in the established institutions.
It appears that some believe this is not an escalation at all, that this is just how the settlers have always behaved, and that they have been out of control for a long time. The fact that some of them are “literally convicted terrorists” certainly adds weight to that viewpoint. Some believe the Israeli government is well aware of this problem, but due to a multitude of reasons, is unable to bring the situation under control.
The commenters note that the settlers are the friends of certain politicians, and this creates a difficult situation. It is a sad reality that the government and its soldiers are sometimes unable to do anything. Some claim the settlers are claiming the IDF fired on them and killed one of them. They were on the receiving end of gunfire already just for being Palestinian.
The whole issue is very sensitive, but the discussion points out a crucial element in this whole conflict: the status of the West Bank and its inhabitants. It is worth noting, as the comments suggest, that there is no state to the territory, and it is up for claim by whichever group establishes the law. This, combined with the settlers’ claims of IDF aggression, could be used to incite more violence. The comments indicate that they will continue to do what they always do.