Settler attacks against Palestinians up by 50% but Bennett says settlers need protecting

After minister suggests discussing settler attacks with a US official, PM calls them ‘insignificant’; Lapid rebuts him, labels the violence ‘a stain on Israel’

‘We must protect settlers,’ Bennett says amid Bar Lev ‘violence’ row (Jerusalem Post)
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett came out in defence of the overall settler community on Tuesday, after Public Security Minister Omer Bar Lev tweeted about discussing “settler violence” with a US official

“Settlers in Judea and Samaria have suffered daily from violence and terrorism for decades,” Bennett tweeted, remaining silent about Bar Lev. “They serve as a protective wall for all of us and we must protect them in word and a deed.”

Yair Lapid: Extremist Violence Is a ‘Stain on Israel’ (The Atlantic)
Israel’s prime minister in wants zero tolerance toward Jewish terrorism. Whether he can bring his own coalition on board with that stance is an open question

Bennett says settler violence 'insignificant' amid spike in attacks against Palestinians (Haaretz)
The prime minister's remarks come after Public Security Minister Bar-Lev doubled down on his critiques of settler violence, which has drawn ire from multiple government officials

As coalition bickers, hundreds of soldiers to help police confront settler violence (Times of Israel)
With government rightists bristling at notion Jewish extremism is an issue, Gantz and Barlev agree on greater police presence in West Bank to tackle attacks

Violent attacks by settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank are up nearly 50% from last year