Netanyahu condemned the riots in Qusra; opposition is furious

The political system is in turmoil today (Saturday) following the violent clashes that occurred in the villages of Qusra and Jalud in Samaria. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the riots, which included stone-throwing and the wounding of a Palestinian woman, while opposition members pointed an accusing finger at the government and security forces.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the events and stated that he strongly condemns the acts of violence committed by what he called a handful of people. "They are breaking the law, causing immense harm to the public of law-abiding settlers, interfering with the IDF in the fulfillment of its missions, and harming Israel's standing in the world," Netanyahu noted, adding that he expects law enforcement agencies to arrest those involved and bring them to justice as soon as possible, after three vehicles were already confiscated in the field.

President Isaac Herzog: "I strongly condemn the serious acts of violence in Qusra. This is a crossing of a red line by lawbreakers acting in complete contradiction to the laws and values of the State of Israel. Another case in a series of events that are a stain on Israel's face and require firm and decisive action. I strengthen the IDF, which is doing its best. The government, security bodies, judicial and law enforcement systems must act with all tools and in full coordination to root out this corrupt phenomenon and bring the rioters to justice."

On the other hand, the opposition harshly criticized the composition of the government and the conduct of the authorities at the beginning of the incident. Knesset member Merav Ben Ari from the Yesh Atid faction referred to the documentation from the field and claimed that those involved entered the villages to carry out a pogrom. "Going up on Saturdays in pickup trucks like terrorists," Ben Ari attacked, and directed questions to the leadership of the Shin Bet and the police regarding their absence. According to her, there are agents of chaos sitting in the government who want to set the region on fire.

Chairman of the "Yashar!" party, Gadi Eisenkot, stated that "the growing anarchy of a violent minority and the loss of control over them in Judea and Samaria are a security, leadership, political, and moral disgrace that does not represent the overwhelming majority of Israeli citizens and is a distraction from the IDF's main mission." He further added, "This is the result of a government policy led by Netanyahu and his coalition partners in which they knowingly abandon the national interest of the State of Israel out of embarrassing and dangerous political weakness."

Knesset member Merav Ben Ari (Yesh Atid) compared the rioters to terrorists and claimed that it was a pogrom. "Going up on Saturdays in pickup trucks like terrorists and entering to carry out a pogrom," Ben Ari wrote. She criticized the absence of the police and the Shin Bet from the scene and added that "in this government, there are agents of chaos sitting who will not rest until this entire sector explodes and soldiers and civilians pay with their lives."

Similar sentiments were expressed by Knesset member Efrat Rayten (The Democrats), who called those involved "Jewish terrorists and masked men on their way to commit riots." According to Rayten, Jewish violence is reaching new heights under the current government, while disregarding human life and the law. She called on security forces to act to prevent similar events in advance and noted that security officials are warning against attempts by politicians to exacerbate tensions.

Chairman of the Hadash-Ta'al faction, Knesset member Ahmad Tibi, joined the critics and defined the rioters as "Jewish settler-terrorists" who are, according to him, "the government's messengers." Tibi pointed an accusing finger directly at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister Bezalel Smotrich, claiming that the media in Israel has been normalizing the takeover of Palestinian homes in the area since last month.

On the other hand, Israelis who were present in the area claimed that they went out for a tour of the area and were attacked first with stones and clubs by residents of Qusra. Additional documentation from the scene showed dozens of Palestinians throwing stones at the group of Israelis, while behind them was a foreign media crew. After that, a confrontation developed on the spot that included mutual stone-throwing.

Following the events, security forces confiscated the vehicles used by the Israelis to reach the village and transferred them and the findings from the field to the Judea and Samaria District Police for investigation. The IDF Spokesperson's Unit stated in response to the events that the army strongly condemns any type of violence. Security forces continue to stay in the Qusra and Jalud area to prevent further riots.