Israeli Settlers Clash with Soldiers in West Bank
(MENAFN) A group of Israeli settlers who had earlier assaulted Palestinians in the village of Kafr Malik, situated in the occupied West Bank, later turned their aggression toward Israeli military personnel on Saturday, escalating tensions in the area, according to various press accounts.
According to an Israeli state broadcaster, six individuals from the settler group were taken into custody after they attacked soldiers near the city of Ramallah.
The same group had allegedly seized Palestinian property and had participated in previous violent acts.
The Israeli military stated that the settlers launched stones at the troops, leaving one soldier with minor injuries. Reports say the settlers also physically assaulted the soldiers, deflated the tires of military transport vehicles, and made attempts to hit them with cars.
In a separate area, they reportedly rammed into military vehicles with their own, threw incendiary devices, and torched a military vehicle.
According to the Israeli press, the soldiers reacted by discharging warning shots into the air using live bullets, a response that has ignited debate.
The deployment of live ammunition by troops against Israeli nationals, particularly settlers, has emerged as a contentious issue.
These same soldiers had used live fire just days earlier—on Wednesday—during skirmishes in which three Palestinians lost their lives.
The episode has sparked criticism from across Israel's political arena. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, and opposition figure Yair Lapid all condemned the settlers’ violent actions.
However, far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich voiced a contrasting opinion.
He contended that the military had “crossed a red line” by firing at Israeli citizens and asserted that both the settlers who occupy Palestinian territory and the Israeli soldiers “are on the same side.”
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