Nathan Shachar: Why the Middle East's Strongest Defense Cannot Remove 50 Extremists

Settlers from the Esh Kodesh settlement have been harassing the Palestinian village of Qusra for over a decade, engaging in land theft and arson. While these incidents have occasionally made international headlines, they were often overshadowed by more pressing global events. However, the situation in Qusra recently resurfaced when settlers occupied several homes in the village, drawing renewed attention from international media.

Israeli soldiers have intervened multiple times, removing the settlers from Palestinian homes, only for them to return shortly after, seemingly unimpeded by the heavily armed elite forces. During this week-long standoff, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has remained notably silent on the issue. When questioned in an interview, he attributed the problem to the courts, claiming they impose overly lenient sentences on perpetrators.

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It takes six hours to stop the abuses against Palestinian civilians in the northern West Bank – if the Israeli government wants to.

However, the article points out that a mere fraction of violent crimes on the West Bank lead to police investigations, with 93 percent being dismissed and only three percent resulting in convictions. This suggests a systemic issue far beyond judicial leniency, with three to four serious violent incidents occurring daily, not including minor altercations.

Despite recognizing the international and political damage these events cause, Netanyahu appears hesitant to take decisive action. This inaction is framed within the context of an ongoing election campaign, where his Likud party is competing with two settler parties that openly advocate for the expulsion of Palestinians. Strong measures against settler violence could alienate a crucial segment of his political base.

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It's not our fault. It's the courts. They give the perpetrators too lenient sentences.