An Israeli rabbi condemns the escalation of settlers' attacks in the West Bank.

Elyakim Levanon, a prominent Israeli rabbi with close ties to the far right, condemned settlers' attacks on Palestinians in an open letter on Monday, writing: "Damaging property, and even harming any person, whether Jewish or non-Jewish, is an immoral act."

“A prominent Israeli rabbi, who has close ties to the far right, condemned settlers' attacks on Palestinians amid rising settler violence in the West Bank”

Al-Jazeera Net

The article reports this statement amid a wave of settler violence in the occupied territories.

Al-Jazeera Net

It says recent days have seen a series of attacks that resulted in deaths and injuries.

The article says these incidents reflect an escalation of organized violence in the West Bank.

On Sunday Palestinians buried four people: three were killed in an attack by settlers on the village of Abu Falah northeast of Ramallah, and another was killed by settlers in Wadi al-Rakhim in the southern West Bank on Saturday.

On Monday evening a number of Palestinians were wounded in settler attacks in the northern and southern West Bank.

Al-Jazeera Net

The Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that four Palestinians sustained bruises from assaults by settlers in Beita, Jama'in and Urif south of Nablus.

WAFA said one of those Palestinians was sprayed with pepper spray, the others were beaten, and settlers also assaulted residents in the Khirbet Hamroush area of Sa'ir north of Hebron.

Haaretz is cited as saying settlers' attacks are not isolated but part of a recurring pattern of "Jewish terrorism" aimed at forcing Palestinians to leave their lands.

“A prominent Israeli rabbi, who has close ties to the far right, condemned settlers' attacks on Palestinians amid rising settler violence in the West Bank”

Al-Jazeera Net

The article says the pattern creates constant friction that makes daily life unbearable and could amount to "gradual displacement."

It cites data from the Palestinian Commission to Resist the Wall and Settlements saying settlers' attacks have increased since the start of the war on the Gaza Strip on October 8, 2023, leaving 42 Palestinians killed.

The article also cites "official Palestinian figures" saying army and settler attacks in the West Bank have killed 1,125 Palestinians, injured about 11,700, and led to about 22,000 arrests.

Those operations have focused on vandalizing and demolishing homes and structures, displacing Palestinians, and expanding settlements.