UN Warns Blurring Line Between Settler, State Violence in West Bank

(MENAFN) A senior official from the United Nations human rights office said Monday that the distinction between settler-related violence and state involvement in the occupied West Bank is becoming increasingly unclear, raising concerns over accountability for attacks against Palestinians.

Speaking at a press briefing in Geneva, Ajith Sunghay said there are growing indications that Israeli military personnel have been directly involved in incidents alongside settlers in Palestinian communities.

“We have actually seen IDF joining settlers and attacking Palestinian communities. It's (IDF) not just standing by,” Sunghay said, noting that separating settler actions from those of Israeli forces has become more difficult, including because some soldiers are themselves settlers.

He added that “the distinction between settler violence and state violence, I think it’s narrowing further and further,” responding to a question from a media outlet.

Sunghay also raised concerns about what he described as a lack of accountability mechanisms for attacks attributed to settlers, saying there were few signs of arrests, prosecutions, or punishment.

“There hasn’t been any accountability. We do not see arrest, prosecution, or punishment,” he said. “They have protection. They are able to grab land, and there's no consequence to it. So, with all those explanations, state action and settler action are merging.”

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