Maariv: The army cooperates with West Bank settlers and facilitates their attacks news

An Israeli report revealed the existence of informal understandings – between the Israeli army and the “hilltop youth” settlers in the West Bank – that allow them to continue their activities against the Palestinians in exchange for avoiding confrontation with the army forces, which was described as “under the table agreements” between the two parties.

According to the report published by Maariv newspaper by its military correspondent, Avi Ashkenazi, these extremist groups are historically known as the “Hill Youth,” and they belong to the settler religious right, and they lead organized attacks against Palestinians in villages and farms near the settlements.

Field understandings

Although the Israeli army describes these groups as “anarchistic” and pose a threat to the regime in the West Bank, field testimonies from reserve soldiers revealed field understandings with the army that allow settlers to remain in “illegal settlement outposts” (which do not have the approval of the government) and provide for their water and electricity needs in exchange for their commitment not to attack army forces, and to focus only on targeting Palestinians.

Maariv quoted sources in the army’s Central Command as saying that the command “acknowledges the escalation of violence practiced by settlers against the Palestinians during the olive season,” as Palestinian families are subjected to repeated attacks while harvesting the crop, including physical assault, burning vehicles, and uprooting trees.

According to data from the security establishment, more than 10 serious violent incidents occurred during the weekend alone in various areas of the occupied West Bank, including assaulting Palestinian farmers, destroying their property, and burning their cars.

The Israeli newspaper explained that the police in the Judea and Samaria region (West Bank) arrested 6 settlers suspected of involvement in these attacks, but the army plans to issue a number of restriction orders against others in an attempt to limit the phenomenon, amid implicit admissions from within the military establishment that the army has partially lost control over these settlers who are supported by the political level.

Surrender to the settlers

The report quoted reserve soldiers and a senior security source as saying that the Israeli army, in the past and present, concluded unwritten understandings with extremist settlers, providing them with implicit protection and logistical facilities inside the illegal settlement outposts, in exchange for refraining from contact with the army.

Sources in the security establishment confirmed that these informal arrangements reflect the surrender of the Israeli army to the influence of the settlers, who enjoy public political support from prominent figures in the current government, in reference to ministers belonging to the religious movement.

According to Israeli army estimates, the number of the hard core of what is known as “anarchist youth” (who commit chaotic or aggressive acts) is only between 50 and 60 young people, but their influence extends to hundreds of others from settlement circles in the West Bank.

Reserve officers believe that leniency with the “hilltop youth” represents a strategic threat, not only to the Palestinians but also to the discipline of the army itself, as some soldiers see the settlers as “ideological allies,” which weakens adherence to the law and military instructions.