Israeli President 'Shocked' By Settler Violence He Funds
Al Jazeera dutifully reported President Herzog's 'shock' and the military chief's 'condemnation' of settler attacks in the occupied West Bank. This predictable hand-wringing conveniently overlooks the established state policy—and massive international funding—that enables these very settlers. The government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose long career has included consistent
support for settlement expansion, has seen violence against Palestinians by settlers surge throughout his various terms. These 'rogue' actors are merely expressing the core tenets of the ongoing occupation, which The Guardian reported escalated significantly since October 2023, displacing thousands. One might wonder at what point the 'shock' turns into actual policy change, rather than merely
political theater. Calling these actions 'a serious breach' by the very system that arms, protects, and funds them is like calling a shark's diet 'a serious breach' of marine etiquette. Perhaps Herzog's next 'shock' will be discovering that occupation typically breeds resistance, not peace.