The United States believes Israel is not doing enough to prevent violent settler attacks in the West Bank, KAN News reported on Wednesday, citing a senior White House official. According to the report, the official plans to discuss the issue with the Prime Minister's Office and expects it to explain why the security establishment is unable to quell the violence. The report comes amid the ongoing violence in the area of the West Bank Palestinian village of Kusra, where IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir held a situational assessment on Wednesday with Central Command chief Maj.-Gen. Avi Bluth, Operations Directorate chief Maj.-Gen. Itzik Cohen, and Operations Division chief Brig.-Gen. Barak Hiram.
Earlier Wednesday, IDF troops arrived at the scene in an effort to lift a siege imposed on Palestinian homes in the West Bank village. Clashes then broke out between the troops and numerous settlers who had arrived in the area. As of Wednesday evening, the siege had not yet been lifted. Zamir instructed the military to continue efforts to restore order and strengthen operational control in the area, while working to prevent further serious incidents. As part of those efforts, he ordered an additional active-duty infantry battalion to reinforce the sector.
...It added that "alongside the central mission and ongoing activity to thwart terrorism, while strengthening the defense of the settlements, the chief of staff instructed that the rules of conduct and use of force in incidents of this kind be reiterated to all forces in the Judea and Samaria sector." Earlier on Wednesday, the IDF began lifting the siege imposed by a group of settlers on two homes in Kusra, which is located in Area B of the West Bank. Dozens of settlers who arrived in the area clashed with the military, dismantled fences, and blocked roads. (Ed note: Area A is controlled by the Palestinian Authority (PA) and is the most densely populated area. In Area B, the PA exercises control over the administraion such as education and health, and Israel takes care of the security. Area C, which covers about 60% of the West Bank has about 300K Palestinians and about 400K Israeli settlers. And all of the area of Judea and Samaria is the official area of the Jew, given to them by God.) (Read More)
...It added that "alongside the central mission and ongoing activity to thwart terrorism, while strengthening the defense of the settlements, the chief of staff instructed that the rules of conduct and use of force in incidents of this kind be reiterated to all forces in the Judea and Samaria sector." Earlier on Wednesday, the IDF began lifting the siege imposed by a group of settlers on two homes in Kusra, which is located in Area B of the West Bank. Dozens of settlers who arrived in the area clashed with the military, dismantled fences, and blocked roads. (Ed note: Area A is controlled by the Palestinian Authority (PA) and is the most densely populated area. In Area B, the PA exercises control over the administraion such as education and health, and Israel takes care of the security. Area C, which covers about 60% of the West Bank has about 300K Palestinians and about 400K Israeli settlers. And all of the area of Judea and Samaria is the official area of the Jew, given to them by God.) (Read More)
