Nationalist Crime in West Bank Surged 63 Percent in First Half of 2026

Security establishment figures released by the Kan public broadcaster show that incidents of nationalist crime committed by Jewish settlers in the West Bank rose by 63 percent during the first half of 2026. There were 660 recorded attacks in the first six months of the year, an increase from 405 during the same period in 2025. Data indicates the trend continued into July with approximately 100 additional incidents recorded.

Palestinian casualties increased during this period, with 140 wounded and six killed, compared to 82 wounded and no fatalities in the first half of 2025. Attacks targeting Israeli security forces also rose by 50 percent, with 45 incidents recorded in the first half of 2026.

In response to the escalation, the IDF increased its deployment to 26 battalions across the West Bank. This reinforcement followed orders from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to expand counterterrorism operations and add checkpoints. Rabbi Dr. Kenneth Brander of Ohr Torah Stone condemned the violence, stating that there is no religious justification for attacking innocent people.

Outlets with different political leanings framed the context of this violence differently. A center leaning source characterized the incidents as settler terror attacks and noted that prosecutions of Jewish extremists are rare, citing accusations that the government has shrugged off the violence. In contrast, a center right leaning source framed the data as a jump in nationalist crime and highlighted the IDF's increased deployment as a necessary response to both settler attacks and Palestinian terrorist attacks.