Settler violence grows in the West Bank! Racist remarks from an illegal settler speaking to the BBC

According to a report by BBC Turkish, recent violence around Havat Gilad, one of the illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, has once again escalated tensions in the region. Following the killing of an Israeli security guard from Havat Gilad in a clash in the village of Tal last week, settler attacks were carried out against surrounding Palestinian villages.

Speaking to BBC Middle East Correspondent Lucy Williamson, a settler named Yehuda Shimon described these attacks as "justified revenge." Shimon works as a lawyer for an organization that represents Israelis arrested for violence against Palestinians.

According to the report, four Palestinians and one Israeli soldier also lost their lives in the clash in the village of Tal. The incident has further increased tensions in the West Bank, which were already high due to both the expansion of settlements and the rise in attacks against Palestinians.

RACIST REMARKS FROM A SETTLER

Naming the Palestinian villages closest to Havat Gilad, Shimon said, "I think now, after killing an Israeli, we need to kill all the people in Tal and Sarra, and even in Jit and Farata."

When the reporter suggested that he was equating one Jewish life with the lives of hundreds or thousands of Palestinians, Shimon replied, "No, millions," and added, "One Jewish life is worth 10 million [Palestinians]." When reminded that these words were racist, he said, "Yes, I know."

As reported by BBC Turkish, Shimon defended this approach on religious grounds, stating, "God chose us." The report emphasized that such extreme views are not shared by the entirety of Israeli society, but are influential among radical segments of the settler movement in the West Bank.

Havat Gilad was established more than 20 years ago in memory of an Israeli security guard killed by Palestinians. Such outposts, established without Israeli planning permission or legal oversight, are considered part of settlements that are deemed illegal under international law.

The Israeli government had previously announced that it would legalize Havat Gilad. However, according to the Israeli organization Peace Now, which monitors settlements, this process has been blocked because a large portion of the land where the outpost is located is recognized by Israel as private property belonging to Palestinians.

UN DATA POINTS TO AN INCREASE IN VIOLENCE

According to data from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 64 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank from the beginning of the year until July 20. 18 of these lost their lives during settler attacks.

According to OCHA, one Israeli was killed during the same period. It was stated that injuries caused by settlers have increased sharply this year, with more than three injuries recorded per day during attacks.

The West Bank has been under Israeli occupation since the 1967 Middle East War. More than half a million Jewish settlers live in hundreds of settlements and outposts in the region. The settlers are protected by the Israeli army and local armed security units composed of settlers.

While Israelis in the West Bank are subject to Israel's civil legal system, Palestinians face military occupation and military courts. Road closures and checkpoints also severely restrict the freedom of movement of Palestinians. Some human rights organizations describe this system as "apartheid," while Israel rejects this characterization.

Palestinian residents who spoke to BBC Turkish said they felt unprotected. A Palestinian woman living in an area overlooking Havat Gilad explained that she constantly watches the settlement from her window to understand the signs of potential attacks.

Palestinians speaking in the region expressed that the Israeli army is focused on protecting the settlers, that Palestinian security forces are not visible, and that the international community has left them alone.