JERUSALEM, ISRAEL—The surge in violence perpetrated by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank has reached unprecedented levels in 2025, not only devastating Palestinian communities but also tearing open a highly visible, painful rift within Israel’s own governing establishment.
The confrontation has pitted the country’s top military commanders and ceremonial President against far-right ministers in the governing coalition, who are widely viewed as enabling and sometimes outright encouraging the attacks.
The Data: A Year of Unprecedented Attacks
The surge in violence has been starkly documented by international observers. Data from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) indicates that 2025 is on track to be the most violent year on record for settler attacks since tracking began in 2006.
- Record Incidents: In October 2025 alone, OCHA documented 264 violent incidents, the highest monthly total ever recorded, coinciding with the sensitive olive harvest season.
- Targeting and Terror: The attacks—which include uprooting thousands of olive trees, burning homes and vehicles, and direct physical assaults—are concentrated in Area C of the West Bank, often intended to seize Palestinian agricultural land and displace residents.
In the most brazen acts, settlers have been filmed attacking Palestinians, human rights activists, and even clashing with the soldiers dispatched to control them.
The Military vs. The Ministers
The military, whose primary mission is to maintain security, is now openly struggling against a domestic “anarchist fringe” that directly undermines its operations and diverts crucial resources.
- IDF’s Condemnation: In a rare public censure, the head of the Central Command, Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, denounced the settlers’ actions, calling the situation “unacceptable” and stating that the violence committed by a “minority of criminals… divert the attention of our forces from fulfilling their mission.”
- The Graffiti Response: The gravity of the split was illustrated by an attack this week on a mosque in Deir Istiya. Settlers torched parts of the building and scrawled graffiti in Hebrew, including messages that referenced Gen. Bluth’s comments, such as “We are not afraid of Avi Bluth” and “Keep on condemning,” displaying open defiance toward the military chain of command.
- President Herzog’s Plea: In a move considered rare for his largely ceremonial role, President Isaac Herzog forcefully condemned the attacks, calling the violence “shocking and serious” and stating that the perpetrators “cross a red line” that demands decisive action from all state authorities.
Government Protection and Impunity
The condemnation from the military brass and President Herzog is being openly challenged by two powerful figures in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government: Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
Both ministers are prominent proponents of the settler movement, and critics—including human rights organizations—accuse the Israeli police and military of consistently failing to hold the perpetrators of these attacks accountable, fostering an environment of near-total impunity.
The lack of political will from the Prime Minister’s Office to definitively curb the attacks has created a situation where the political wing of the government appears to be at odds with the military’s operational and moral priorities.
As the violence continues, the internal Israeli crisis raises profound questions about the government’s ability to maintain law and order and control the actions of a militant fringe that is increasingly challenging the state’s authority and damaging Israel’s international standing.