Israeli Soldiers Adopt Settler Ideology, Target Palestinians and CNN in West Bank
Following an attack by Israeli settlers who established an illegal outpost, Israeli soldiers detained Palestinian residents and a CNN crew, damaging a journalist’s camera. Soldiers openly expressed their belief that the West Bank belongs to Israelis and that they are assisting the settler movement by protecting illegal outposts, with one soldier stating he “helps his people” by working to legalize settlements. This incident highlights the documented pattern of Israeli soldiers supporting or enabling settler encroachment and violence against Palestinians, often fueled by a narrative of revenge. The military stated the soldiers’ actions were incompatible with expectations, but did not address the illegal outpost or the rise in settler violence.