IDF Chief Vows Crackdown as Herzog Condemns ‘Shocking’ Settler Violence
London-UK, November 13, 2025
A significant internal rift has broken open in Israel’s leadership after President Herzog publicly declared that ‘shocking’ settler violence must end, while the Israel army chief vows to stop settler attacks in the West Bank.
The rare and powerful joint condemnation from both the ceremonial head of state and the head of the military, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, follows a severe escalation in settler attacks targeting Palestinian villages and even Israeli soldiers in the West Bank.
President Herzog’s statement, describing the acts as ‘shocking’ and stating they ‘cross a red line,’ signals deep internal concern about the unchecked phenomenon, while the army chief has pledged decisive action against the “anarchist fringe” responsible for the violence, which is undermining the IDF’s primary mission.
Headline Points: The Condemnation and the Crisis
The Incident:
The condemnations follow a large-scale attack on Tuesday involving dozens of masked Israeli settlers in the Palestinian villages of Beit Lid and Deir Sharaf in the West Bank, resulting in torched vehicles, property damage, and injuries to four Palestinians.
Herzog’s Stance:
President Isaac Herzog issued a rare and powerful public condemnation via social media, calling the violence “shocking and serious” and demanding that “all state authorities must act decisively to eradicate the phenomenon.”
Army Chief’s Pledge:
Army Chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir stated that the military “will not tolerate criminal behavior by a small minority” that “diverts the attention of our forces from fulfilling their mission.” He vowed to act “decisively until justice is served.”
Military Commander’s Frustration:
Central Command Chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, the top commander in the West Bank, echoed the sentiment, stating that responding to this “anarchist fringe” is an intolerable situation that forces the diversion of significant resources away from security and counterterrorism.
Impunity Continues:
Despite the strong condemnations and four initial arrests by the IDF, three of the four Israeli suspects were quickly released by the Israel Police, underscoring the ongoing issue of near-complete impunity for perpetrators of settler violence.
Statistical Peak:
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) confirmed that October 2025 saw the highest number of settler attacks causing casualties or property damage—264 attacks—since it began recording in 2006.
A Public ‘Red Line’ Crossed by Israel’s President
President Isaac Herzog’s statement is particularly significant because his role is largely ceremonial, designed to serve as a moral compass and a unifying force for the country.
His use of the terms ‘shocking and serious’ and ‘crosses a red line’ brings a level of moral authority to the issue that has often been missing from top Israeli officials, who have previously offered muted or infrequent criticism of the settler attacks.
The President’s forceful intervention is seen as a direct response to the escalating nature of the violence, which has shifted from isolated incidents to highly organized, large-scale assaults, often accompanied by arson and sometimes targeting IDF soldiers themselves.
The attacks on Tuesday were not only directed at Palestinian civilians—injuring four and destroying numerous vehicles and a factory—but also saw settlers attacking the Israeli soldiers who arrived to halt the rampage, damaging a military vehicle.
This attack on the state’s security forces appears to have been the breaking point for the high-level military and political condemnations.
The IDF’s Crisis of Focus and Law Enforcement
The Israel army chief, Lieutenant General Zamir, framed the pledge to stop settler attacks as a necessity for national security.
The West Bank has seen a massive surge in violence since the conflict in Gaza began, with the IDF dedicating extensive resources to counter rising militant activity.
However, the phenomenon of extreme settler violence forces the military to divert troops and attention away from counterterrorism operations and community defense.
Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth of the Central Command was explicit: “The reality in which anarchist fringe youth act violently against innocents and against security forces is an intolerable and extremely serious situation that must be dealt with firmly.”
He stressed that significant military resources are being diverted to dealing with “those anarchists” instead of focusing on the IDF’s core mission.
The message is clear:
settler attacks are viewed by the military leadership not only as a moral and legal failing but as a tangible threat to the IDF’s operational effectiveness in the volatile region.
Despite the strong statements from the military, the problem of enforcement remains acute.
Shortly after the Tuesday arrests, the Israel Police released three of the four suspects, a decision that reportedly sparked ire among IDF officials who view the police’s lack of enforcement as enabling the violence.
Arrests of Israeli settlers suspected of attacking Palestinians are rare, and successful prosecutions are even rarer.
This impunity is what the UN and human rights organizations argue is fostering a “permissive environment” that allows the violence to grow unchecked, potentially accelerating the displacement of Palestinian communities from their land.
The combined pledge by the Israel army chief and President Herzog now places intense public pressure on the police and the justice system to demonstrate that the new ‘red line’ will be enforced with serious criminal accountability.
