Settler Violence Is Dividing Israelis—Even Within the Settler Movement

On August 4, Israeli settlers arrived at the home of Loui Abu Ridi, a Palestinian American, in Qusra, a village in the occupied West Bank. The family had hired contractors to install a new fence around their property, and the workers were on site when the settlers arrived on an ATV. Loui's brother Qusai called the Israeli police for help, but instead of protecting the Abu Ridi family from the settlers, the Israeli military detained the Palestinian workers, taking them away while allowing the settlers to roam freely. This incident is seen as emblematic of the Israeli government's role in emboldening settler violence against Palestinians. The Ridi family has been affected by this violence, with their property under siege and their food and water supplies dwindling. The US ambassador to Israel described the settlers' actions as "terrorists", but the Trump administration has generally supported Israel and its settlement building policies. Meanwhile, within the Israeli settler movement, there is growing debate about the morality of such violence, with some settlers criticizing others for their extremist behavior.