On Sunday evening (29 June), Israeli settlers attacked an army base in the West Bank, which is illegally occupied by Israel. According to the army, the attack involved arson, destruction of military equipment and graffiti. Soldiers were also attacked.
The Israeli government has condemned the attack. "No civilised country can tolerate violence and anarchist acts such as setting fire to military facilities," said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Times of Israel reports that far-right minister Bezalel Smotrich issued a 'rare condemnation'. "Violence against beloved IDF soldiers [...] and the destruction of property crosses a red line," said Smotrich.
Tensions between the Israeli authorities and settlers in the West Bank had been running high for days prior to the incident. Last Wednesday, a group of more than 100 settlers entered the Palestinian village of Kafr Malik. They then set fire to several houses. Three Palestinians were killed after the army intervened. The Israeli army arrested five settlers, but they were soon released. Several incidents involving the Israeli army, the police and settlers then took place in the days that followed.
