Newsletters
Israeli journalist and writer Gideon Levy said escalating attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank are part of a systematic campaign, backed by the Israeli army and government, to push Palestinians from the territory.
“That’s an attempt for an ethnic cleansing of the West Bank, and it is systematic, and it is backed by the Israeli authorities, no doubt,” Levy told Anadolu.
Settler attacks rose from 1,291 in 2023 to 1,449 in 2024 and 1,835 in 2025, with another 761 recorded in the first four months of 2026.
More than 90% of police cases involving settlers are closed without indictments, while conviction rates remain around 3%, contributing to what critics describe as de facto impunity.
Levy said the campaign begins with shepherds and small communities before expanding toward villages and buildings.
“They cannot push away three million people, so they try to do it with the weakest points,” he said.
Levy said Israeli soldiers sometimes cooperate directly with settlers and accused the army of failing to protect Palestinians.
“In many cases, you see soldiers collaborating with the settlers,” he said, adding that Palestinians are left “totally helpless.”
He said Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich plays a major role by directing substantial government funding toward the settlement movement, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also bears responsibility because he “could have stopped it.”
Levy described the lack of accountability as part of an “apartheid system,” saying Jews and Palestinians are not treated equally under the West Bank’s legal framework.
Levy said international criticism has failed to deter Israel because, in his view, meaningful sanctions have not followed.
He cited Türkiye as an exception but said the EU and U.S. had not taken serious measures.
Levy also said the government is seeking to escalate tensions in the West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon and Iran ahead of the elections.
He argued that officials are trying to seize as much territory and establish as many new outposts as possible before a possible change in government, saying about 1 million dunams have already been taken.
Although Levy expects the current government to leave office, he said he does not anticipate a major policy change toward Palestinians, Gaza or southern Lebanon.
He said a future government might restrain settlers somewhat but would not fundamentally shift policy on a Palestinian state, ending the occupation or what he described as apartheid.
“It’s not the policy of one government or another,” Levy said.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
2 min read
1 min read
