WATCH: 'Not fringe youth': Hundreds of Israelis protest West Bank settler violence in Tel Aviv

In a powerful display of dissent, hundreds of Israelis converged on Tel Aviv's Habima Square to denounce the escalating violence perpetrated by West Bank settlers. This protest, organized by The Peace Partnership initiative, marks a significant moment as it specifically targets this form of violence, demanding tangible government action rather than mere verbal condemnations.

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relies on the understanding that Israel's law enforcement will always stand by their side.

Activists who have directly suffered from settler attacks shared their harrowing experiences. Oded Papourish, an Israeli tour guide injured in Kusra, articulated a critical point: settler violence thrives on the "understanding that Israel's law enforcement will always stand by their side." He lamented that if authorities had acted decisively, those responsible would already be behind bars, not continuing their violent rampage.

Oded Yadaya, principal of Minshar School of Art and an IDF veteran, underscored that these "hilltop farms are not 'weeds' or 'fringe youth' - this terror is an inseparable part of the settlement enterprise." He highlighted the state's role in providing backing, budgets, and weapons to these elements, while noting the systemic bias in the justice system, where police often arrest activists like himself instead of the perpetrators, and courts favor the rioters' accounts.

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those who attacked us would have been behind bars yesterday, or at the very least would not have returned to the outpost and continued their violence at this very moment.

The message from the protest was clear: settler violence must cease. Adi Cohen, a retiree and volunteer with the Protective Presence organization, stated, "There is no justification for such violence, not against us [Israeli activists] and not against Palestinians. Not against any human being." Yael Levkowitz, a teacher and volunteer, added that the violence must be addressed "at every level – from the violent youth, to the settlers and the willfully blind public, all the way to the authorities who enable them."

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These hilltop farms are not 'weeds' or 'fringe youth' - this terror is an inseparable part of the settlement enterprise.

This demonstration reflects a growing segment of Israeli society deeply troubled by the unchecked violence emanating from settlements. It challenges the narrative that such acts are isolated incidents perpetrated by a few extremists, instead framing it as an integral and state-sanctioned component of the settlement project. The call for action from those who have experienced this violence firsthand resonates with a plea for accountability and a demand that the state uphold its responsibility to protect all individuals, not just a select few.

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They receive backing, budgets, and weapons from the state and its authorities.