Germany calls on Israel to clamp down on violent settlers in West Bank

By Oliver Towfigh Nia

BERLIN (AA) - Germany on Wednesday urged Israel to rein in rampant settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

"We are also concerned about the further increase in settler violence, as well as statements by Israeli Cabinet members who describe the violent actions of the settlers as part of the fight against terror and in this way legitimize them,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Sebastian Fischer said at a press briefing in Berlin.

“Such violence and its legitimation cannot be justified, violates human rights and damages the prospects for resolving the Middle East conflict and we will continue to monitor settler violence at the European level," he added.

Fischer reiterated that unlike the US, his country would continue to support EU sanctions against radical settlers.

He made clear that Israel’s efforts to restore law and order in the West Bank “must be done in accordance with international law.”

Violence perpetrated by settlers and Israeli security forces in the occupied West Bank has increased since an onslaught against the Gaza Strip began Oct. 7, 2023.

A ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal took effect on Sunday.

In July, the International Court of Justice declared Israel's decades-long occupation of Palestinian land illegal and demanded the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

Tension has been running high across the West Bank due to Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza, where at least 47,000 victims have been killed, mostly women and children, and more than 110,700 injured since Oct. 7, 2023.

Around 870 Palestinians have since been killed and over 6,700 injured by Israeli army fire in the occupied territory, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.