US urges Israel to curb West Bank violence
The US urges Israel to tackle rising settler violence in the West Bank, averaging 6.6 incidents daily, amid global criticism.
The United States is urging Israel to take stronger action against settler violence in the West Bank, where a United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) report shows an average of 6.6 incidents per day that have caused casualties or property damage.
Escalating Violence
Violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians has intensified in 2026. The UN has warned that this year has seen the highest rate of settler violence on record. In July, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the attacks as the work of “150 or so, what you call, juvenile delinquents,” and said public officials should not “take the law into their own hands.”
Two high-profile incidents this week illustrate the trend. One saw a far-right Israeli lawmaker smash a Palestinian monument under the watch of Israeli soldiers, who stopped the demolition within minutes. The other involved settlers, including children, throwing stones at AFP journalists and left-wing activists; at least five people were injured, and an Israeli soldier temporarily confiscated a journalist’s camera.
Top rights groups have characterized settler violence in the West Bank as state-sanctioned ethnic cleansing, a claim that underscores the severity of the situation.
International Pressure
The surge in violence comes ahead of Israel’s October elections, and critics argue that Netanyahu’s response is tempered by a desire to avoid antagonizing far-right coalition partners such as National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who have been sanctioned by several Western governments for incitement.
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, a longtime settlement supporter, has publicly denounced violent settlers as “Israeli terrorists.” A State Department spokesperson said the U.S. “condemns criminal violence by any party in the West Bank,” while Democratic senators, led by Sens. Adam Schiff, Chuck Schumer and Cory Booker, sent a letter urging Netanyahu to prevent and investigate violations of law and to make clear that the Israeli government will not tolerate violence by its people.
Israeli Military Response
The most senior Israel Defense Forces officer in the West Bank warned that rising settler violence could ignite a wider escalation and hinder efforts to counter Palestinian terrorism. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir announced a significant increase of troops in the West Bank amid the tensions.
US Diplomatic Actions
The US has also engaged in broader diplomatic efforts. CIA Director John Ratcliffe’s recent trip to Moscow was aimed at warning Russia against attacking NATO countries, according to the Wall Street Journal. Meanwhile, the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is scheduled to host a G-20 finance ministers meeting on Aug. 31.
The situation remains a focal point for US-Israel relations, with Washington seeking to balance support for Israel’s security with calls for restraint and accountability in the occupied territories.
