Israeli security chiefs vow crackdown on settler 鈥榯errorism鈥�

Sven Kuhn von Burgsdorff, head of the European Union's mission to the West Bank and Gaza Strip, reacts as he stands inside a destroyed building during a visit with a diplomatic delegation to the village of Turmus Ayya near the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah on June 23, 2023, in the aftermath of an attack there by Israeli settlers. (AFP)
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  • That practice is largely used by Israel against Palestinian security suspects and is denounced by rights groups

JERUSALEM/UMM SAFA, West Bank: Israeli security chiefs on Saturday designated settler attacks on Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank as 鈥渘ationalist terrorism鈥� that merits stepped-up counter measures, and their remarks drew anger from far-right cabinet ministers.
A surge of violence over the past week in the West Bank included rampages by scores of Israeli settlers on Palestinian towns and villages that drew international condemnation and concern from the White House.
On Saturday, settlers torched at least two homes in the Palestinian village Umm Safa near Ramallah, residents said. Israel鈥檚 military said at least one Israeli suspect had been arrested.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant condemned the attack.
In a joint statement, Israel鈥檚 military, police and domestic security service chiefs said the settlers鈥� actions amounted to 鈥渘ationalist terrorism鈥� which they pledged to fight.
The military will boost its forces in the area to prevent such violence, they said, and the Shin Bet domestic security service will enhance arrests, including 鈥渁dministrative detention鈥� in which suspects can be held without charge.
That practice is largely used by Israel against Palestinian security suspects and is denounced by rights groups.
The statement drew sharp rebuke by two members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu鈥檚 nationalist-religious government.
鈥淭he attempt to equate murderous Arab terrorism with civilian counter actions, as serious as they are, is immoral and dangerous,鈥� said Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
He called on security forces to step up their efforts against Palestinian attacks and on settlers to refrain from 鈥渢aking the law into their own hands.鈥�
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has past convictions for support for terrorism and incitement against Arabs, echoed Smotrich鈥檚 remarks.
On Friday, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan expressed concerns about settler attacks on Palestinian villages in a call with his Israeli counterpart, hours after Ben-Gvir called on settlers to expand their presence across the West Bank.
The settlers鈥� assaults this week followed intense gunbattles in Jenin that left seven Palestinians dead, a Palestinian shooting attack that killed four Israelis and a rare Israeli air strike in the area against militants.
Earlier on Saturday, a Palestinian militant opened fire at a West Bank Israeli checkpoint and wounded a security guard, Israel鈥檚 police said. They added that the Palestinian gunman was then shot dead by forces at the scene.
The gunman was claimed by Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, an armed group associated with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas鈥� Fatah party.
US-brokered peace talks between the Palestinians and Israel aimed at establishing a Palestinian state in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza, collapsed in 2014 and show no sign of revival.
Most countries deem the settlements Israel built on land it seized in the 1967 war as illegal, a view Israel disputes.