Israel's far-right Finance Minister, who also holds a defense portfolio related to the West Bank, came out on Friday in support of settlers who have carried out attacks in the West Bank.
In a message published on Channel 7, Smotrich expressed his refusal to describe settler violence as "terrorism," and criticized the use of administrative detentions against them. Four settlers have been detained without trial, even though hundreds have carried out attacks on Palestinian villages and towns in recent days.
Smotrich described the youths who carry out such attacks as "dedicated and patriotic," and called on the army to do more to protect settlers. However, he also called on settlers to respect the army's authority and to avoid attacking IDF soldiers.
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Far-right Smotrich lends backing to settler violence in West Bank