The Israeli police announced on Monday that they had arrested 10 people in the occupied West Bank following attacks by settlers on an American photographer and a French mayor. These attacks, which have been condemned internationally, have received mixed responses from the Israeli government.
Arrest operations and collected evidence
In a rare move against the rising violence of settlers, the Israeli police stated that they conducted search operations in several locations in this occupied territory and seized vehicles and potential evidence related to these attacks. General Moshe Finci, the commander of the Israeli police in the West Bank, said: "Following severe violent incidents over the past weekend, the arrest operation was carried out before dawn." He added that the suspects were arrested on suspicion of involvement in these violent incidents and violating military orders due to activities in closed military zones.
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Increase in settler attacks and international reactions
Eyewitnesses have reported that settlers have significantly intensified violent attacks against Palestinians during the olive harvest season, aiming to seize their lands during this culturally significant time. Human rights groups have pointed out that Israel rarely prosecutes settlers who harm Palestinians. The Israeli human rights group Yesh Din reported that since September 27, they have documented 561 incidents of violence against Palestinians by settlers or Israeli soldiers.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing electoral challenges, has tried to strengthen his right-wing base that supports settlers and has expressed skepticism about the circumstances surrounding the recent attacks on Westerners. Netanyahu's stance has faced severe criticism from the opposition, which accuses him of damaging Israel's image.
The U.S. Ambassador, Mike Huckabee, a staunch supporter of Israel, described the attack on Hedi Lewin, an experienced photographer, as a "terrorist act" and called for the punishment of the accused. He assessed Monday's arrests as "a very positive development."
One day after the attack on Lewin, settlers attacked a convoy of European diplomats, including the consuls general of France and Belgium, while they were passing through the city of Taybeh in the West Bank. Settlers attacked Bernard Boudot, the 78-year-old mayor of Allenoy-Imer, who was harvesting olives during a charitable visit.
This violence has led to international reactions, with British Foreign Secretary Edward Miliband accusing Israel of conducting a campaign of "ethnic cleansing" and his government imposing sanctions on goods produced in the settlements.
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