arrest of four Israelis linked to West Bank riot
Authorities revealed that a Palestinian village was attacked by dozens of rioters using guns and Molotov cocktails.
On Aug. 22, Israeli authorities announced the arrest of four individuals suspected of involvement in a violent assault on a Palestinian village in the West Bank the previous week, which resulted in the death of one Palestinian.
According to reports, on Aug. 15, dozens of rioters attacked the town of Jit with firearms and Molotov cocktails. This incident received strong condemnation from Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who ensured a prompt investigation.
“This was a severe terror event that included setting fire to buildings and vehicles, throwing stones and Molotov cocktails, as well as live fire, resulting in the death of one Palestinian and the injury of another,” stated the police and domestic security agency.
Shin Bet security agency and Israeli police apprehended three adults and a minor believed to have carried out multiple acts of terrorism against Palestinians, as stated in a joint announcement.
Shin Bet director Ronen Bar cautioned Netanyahu in a letter that extremist settler violence is pushing the country towards a catastrophic situation. He emphasized that such violence should not be categorized merely as “nationalistic crimes” but should be recognized as Jewish terror.
Social media reports indicated that Bar’s letter accused Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir of indirectly or directly endorsing such violence, leading to Ben-Gvir allegedly leaving a cabinet meeting on Aug. 22.
Related Stories
Reports mentioned that the attackers, estimated by village residents to be around a hundred, committed acts of arson, destroyed homes and vehicles, and damaged water tanks. Videos captured flames engulfing the village.
Netanyahu emphasized the grave nature of the attack, stating, “Those combating terrorism are the IDF (Israel Defense Force) and the security forces, and no one else,” in a post last week.
Even Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, known for aggressively expanding Jewish settlements in the West Bank, distanced himself from the incident and condemned the violence.
“The rioters in Jit do not represent the settlements or settlers,” Smotrich stated. “They are criminals who should face the full force of the law by enforcement authorities.”
Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel’s Minister of National Security and leader of the far-right Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party, arrives to visit Jerusalem’s Mahane Yehuda market on December 30, 2022. Menahem Kahana / AFP
Following the incident, Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, revealed that the extremists who rioted in Jit were mostly not settlers from his region.
“We are aware that this is a WhatsApp group of radical, violent youth, many of whom are not from Samaria. I disapprove of them, just like most of the country,” he said as reported by the Times of Israel.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
