Israeli West Bank settler tells BBC attacks on Palestinians are justified as revenge

Key Points:

• A recent wave of settler attacks on Palestinian villages near the Israeli outpost of Havat Gilad followed the killing of an Israeli security guard, with conflicting accounts of the initial incident that also left four Palestinians and an Israeli soldier dead.
• Yehuda Shimon, a settler lawyer interviewed at Havat Gilad, justified the attacks as revenge and expressed extreme views equating one Jewish life to millions of Palestinian lives, citing religious entitlement to the land and criticizing Israeli authorities for insufficiently supporting settlers.
• Havat Gilad is an unauthorized outpost built on land largely recognized as privately owned by Palestinians, making it illegal under international law, though the Israeli government has considered legalizing it by designating nearby state land for expansion.
• Data from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs shows that settler violence in the West Bank has increased sharply in 2024, with 64 Palestinians killed since January, including 18 during settler attacks, and over three settler-inflicted injuries per day on average.
• The conflict in the West Bank is marked by stark inequalities, with Israeli settlers protected by the Israeli army and enjoying civilian rights, while Palestinians live under military occupation with restricted movement; some settlers advocate for forced Palestinian emigration or lethal measures against those resisting Israeli rule.