Israeli Military Faces Criticism Over Inaction During West Bank Settler Siege

The Israeli military has failed to evict a small group of settlers who besieged Palestinians in their homes near Qusra, near Nablus, for more than a week. The settlers blocked supplies to the residents, leading to international and domestic condemnation. The United States requested action from Israel because one of the besieged Palestinians is a US citizen. While the military deployed troops, dismantled tents, and detained one Israeli, observers say little was done to force the settlers out. Some soldiers were filmed praying with the settlers, which led the military to vow disciplinary action. Later videos showed settlers on quadbikes chatting and shaking hands with Israeli forces.

Experts and observers describe the military as being in a state of paralysis or inertia. Nimrod Novik, a senior advisor to former Prime Minister Shimon Peres, stated that government support for extremist settlers puts the military in an impossible situation. He argued that soldiers must choose between professional duty and government policy that provides political backing to settlers. Nadav Weiman, head of the advocacy group Breaking the Silence, added that the infrastructure of the occupation makes it easy to act against Palestinians but difficult to enforce the law on settlers. He noted that soldiers are often told to refer settlers to the police and that lines are blurring between soldiers and settlers due to the influence of ideological pre military academies.

Both reports characterize the military's failure to act as a symptom of broader systemic issues. A center leaning source emphasizes the systemic failure and the specific influence of settler ideology within the army ranks. A center right leaning source frames the situation as a military paralysis caused by the impossible position created by government support for settlers.