Last week (Thursday) about 100 Israeli Jews raided the village of Jit near Kalkilia in Samaria. During the disturbances, vehicles and residences were set on fire.
Security camera footage shows masked men arriving at the village with sticks and stones, while at the same time residents close the gates of their houses and flee. At a certain point the rioters start vandalizing vehicles and then setting them on fire. On the side of the photo, the same rioters are seen throwing stones at nearby houses, while at the same time the vehicle catches fire and burns completely.
As part of the events, a Molotov cocktail was thrown at a house while the family was inside and it started to catch fire. The house burned down and the family escaped at the last moment. The IDF says that live fire was also fired by settlers and the Palestinians report a dead and seriously wounded by gunfire. The Civil Administration confirmed the report of a Palestinian killed, but at the moment there is no sure verification of what led to his death.
The IDF spokesman commented on the riots yesterday: in the evening, dozens of Israeli civilians, some of them masked, entered the village of Jit in Samaria, set fire to vehicles and buildings in the village, threw stones and threw Molotov cocktails. They used means of dispersing demonstrations and shooting into the air, and took the Israeli citizens out of the village.
The security forces arrested one Israeli citizen who was handed over to the Israel Police for further treatment. The report about a Palestinian who was killed during the incident was examined. Following the serious incident, a joint investigation was launched by the IDF, the Shin Bet and the Israel Police. The IDF condemns events of this type and the rioters, who harm security, law and order, and distract the IDF and the security forces from their primary mission of thwarting terrorism and protecting the security of the residents.
Strong condemnations were heard from all over the political spectrum.
Yossi Dagan, head of the Shomron Regional Council, and Ozel Vetik, head of the Kedumim Council, said that “we wish to say clearly and unambiguously: even after throwing stones, no one has the right to take the law into their own hands”, according to Arutz Sheva.
The two suggested that following a report of stone throwing on the road near Jit, foreigners – who they say are “unwanted guests” – arrived from outside Samaria “through strange WhatsApp groups with the aim of causing disorder and violence.”
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich responded to the incident: “The rioters tonight in Jit are in no way related to the settlements or the settlers. They are criminals who should be dealt with by the law enforcement authorities with the full severity of the law. We are building and developing the settlement in a legal and state manner, backing the IDF in its fight against terrorism, and strongly disapprove of any manifestation of dangerous anarchist criminal violence that has nothing and a half to do with loving the land and settling in it.”
The Prime Minister’s Office responded: Prime Minister Netanyahu takes seriously the riots that took place this evening in the village of Jit, which included injury to life and property by Israelis who entered the village. Those who fight terrorism are the IDF and the security forces, and no one else. Those responsible for any criminal act will be caught and prosecuted.
President Yitzhak Herzog: “I strongly condemn tonight’s disturbances in Samaria. This is an extreme minority that harms the law-abiding settler population and the settlement as a whole and in the name and position of Israel in the world during a particularly sensitive and difficult time. This is not our way and certainly not the way of the Torah and Judaism. On the law enforcement officials Act immediately against this serious phenomenon and bring the lawbreakers to justice.”
The United States Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew condemned the violence and wrote on his Twitter account: I am shocked by the violent attack by settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank. These attacks must stop, and the criminals must be brought to justice.
Leader of the opposition Yair Lapid: “The riots of the Jews in Samaria are a terrible moral low. When in the government there are those who support such events, it will only get worse. This has nothing to do with Judaism.”
Defense Minister Yoav Galant wrote on Twitter that “while our soldiers are fighting on the various fronts to defend the State of Israel, a handful of extremists who do not represent the values of the settlement in Samaria, riot and harm innocent civilians.” Gallant condemned the events – and backed up the security forces to deal with the issue. He also wrote: “The riots of the extremists go against every moral imperative and values of the State of Israel.”
On the other hand, Ben Gvir chose to blame Defense Minister Gallant and Chief of Staff Halevy: “I told the Chief of Staff this evening that the soldiers are not allowed to shoot any terrorist who throws stones leading to incidents of the type that occurred tonight. Besides, it is unequivocally forbidden to take the law into one’s own hands. The one who needs to deal with terrorism and deterrence, also towards terrorists from the village of Jit, is the IDF. It’s time for the defense minister to get out of the trap and do it.”
