Emergency Meeting Addresses West Bank Unrest
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a high-level security cabinet meeting late on Thursday, November 20, 2025, to confront the escalating issue of Israeli settler violence in the West Bank. The closed-door session brought together officials from the military, the Shin Bet domestic security service, and the police to discuss the recent spike in attacks and potential measures to curb them. An Israeli official, speaking anonymously, indicated that proposals discussed included educational programs for violent settlers, with a follow-up meeting anticipated.
US Pressure Mounts on Israeli Government
The meeting occurred under considerable pressure from the United States, which has expressed growing concern that unchecked settler violence could undermine its peace plan for Gaza and risk opening a second front in the already volatile region. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee recently described settler violence as 'terrorism,' stating that 'Israelis can carry out terrorism as well.' US lawmakers, including Congressman Dan Goldman and Senator Cory Booker, have also urged President Trump to press the Israeli government for accountability and to consider reinstating sanctions on violent settlers.
Surge in Violence and Recent Incidents
The United Nations Humanitarian office reported that October 2025 saw the highest number of Israeli settler attacks since it began tracking in 2006, with over 260 incidents resulting in injuries or property damage. This adds to the 2,660 settler attacks recorded through September 2025. Recent incidents highlighted include allegations of Israeli settlers throwing rocks at Palestinian vehicles and setting a large fire at a scrapyard in the West Bank village of Huwara on November 21, 2025. The violence has also involved damage to homes, mosques, vehicles, crops, livestock, and trees.
Netanyahu's Stance and Broader Context
Prime Minister Netanyahu has publicly condemned the perpetrators, referring to them as 'a handful of extremists' and urging law enforcement to pursue them for 'the attempt to take the law into their own hands.' He previously stated that Israel 'will take very forceful action' against such riots. The security cabinet meeting took place shortly after Israel's Civil Administration announced plans to expropriate significant land in Sebastia, a major archaeological site, and following celebrations for a new, unauthorized settlement near Bethlehem. The Israeli government includes prominent far-right proponents of the settler movement, such as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who oversees settlement policy, and Cabinet minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who is in charge of the police force. Separately, Singapore recently imposed targeted financial sanctions and entry bans on four Israeli individuals due to their involvement in violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
7 Comments
Stan Marsh
Netanyahu's condemnation of 'extremists' is a step in the right direction, yet the simultaneous land expropriation and new settlements send mixed signals. Consistency in policy is essential to build trust and reduce conflict.
Eric Cartman
US interference is making things worse, not better. This is an internal Israeli matter.
Stan Marsh
It's about time Netanyahu addressed this. US pressure is finally making a difference!
Eric Cartman
Educational programs for violent settlers are a decent idea for long-term change, but immediate, decisive law enforcement actions are also critical to halt the current surge in attacks. It can't be one or the other.
Kyle Broflovski
Netanyahu's meeting is just for show. He won't actually curb his far-right allies.
KittyKat
The US calling it 'terrorism' is a strong, necessary statement. Hope it leads to real change.
ZmeeLove
It's good to see international attention on the violence, but focusing solely on settler actions without addressing the broader conflict dynamic won't solve the issue. Both sides need to de-escalate and commit to peace.