Oct 7, 2026 · 27 min
Settler violence exposes Israel’s West Bank policy divide
The West Bank’s boiling point
The episode connects attacks on Palestinian families to the state’s uneven enforcement, permissive policies, and mounting international pressure.
- 1The siege near Jalud and attack on the Tubasi family show how settler violence can overwhelm security forces.
- 2The Hilltop Youth links informal outposts, religious nationalism, and a significant share of attacks against Palestinians.
- 3Michael Koplow argues that government policies enable violence even without direct orders, while sanctions have yet to change course.
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The Tubasi family returns to damaged homes only to face a mob that overwhelms security forces and surrounds their evacuation vehicle.
The brief
Near Jalud, Hilltop Youth settlers besieged Palestinian homes and forced residents to flee; an Israeli court later ordered the state to facilitate their return.
When the Tubasi family came back, they found extensive damage and faced a large mob that overwhelmed security forces and surrounded their evacuation vehicle.
Feliz Solomon describes the Hilltop Youth as a fringe network rooted in religious Zionism and ultra-nationalism, drawing members from settlements and strict or troubled homes.
The episode examines soldiers’ inconsistent responses, including cases where they appeared passive or sympathetic, while former security officials argued enforcement could reduce attacks.
Michael Koplow says officials minimize the violence as juvenile delinquency, while ministers and ministries create conditions that make attacks easier to carry out.
Condemnation from Mike Huckabee, European governments, and former Israeli officials has produced sanctions and warnings, but Koplow says pressure has not stopped the violence.