Jewish settler violence is to blame for increased terror activities and rising tensions across Jerusalem and the West Bank, Meretz chairwoman Zehava Galon claimed in a Shabbatarbut event in Petach Tikva.
Galon added that the IDF is "securing convoys of settlers who come [to the West Bank] to provoke Palestinians...they beat them, the settlers are extremely violent toward Palestinians."
Israel's security establishment must act in a stronger manner against the settlers, she lamented. She further called for Defense Minister Benny Gantz to "restrain and moderate" IDF soldiers operating in the West Bank.
"The whole area would escalate if Israeli forces were to enter Jenin now," Galon warned.
Benny Gantz: IDF has my full backing
Gantz responded to Galon's comments later on Saturday, writing on Twitter that the current sensitive security situation required elected officials to be responsible.
"This is true for open fire rules, which are set only by the IDF chief of staff and his commanders, without any political involvement," the defense minister stressed.
"Amid a complicated reality on the ground, IDF soldiers and commanders have my full backing to carry out their mission to protect Israeli civilians," Gantz added.
"Amid a complicated reality on the ground, IDF soldiers and commanders have my full backing to carry out their mission to protect Israeli civilians"
Defense Minister Benny Gantz
On the other hand, Galon admitted during the Saturday event, there is an "awakening of unorganized Palestinian youth which is causing terrible violence in Jenin and Nablus."
The Meretz head noted that there is a "ludicrous" rise in the number of Palestinians killed over the last 12 months, calling to "end the bloodshed, as we are also paying the price in blood."
Galon: 'Bully' Ben-Gvir wants to start a religious war
During the event, Galon also hit out at far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir (Religious Zionists Party) for his involvement in altercations in Jerusalem during a strenuous period for Israel's security forces in the capital and the West Bank.
Ben-Gvir was involved in clashes between Israelis and Palestinians in east Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah earlier this week. During the confrontations, the Otzma Yehudit head brandished a gun.
According to Galon, Ben-Gvir, a "bully and a provocateur," made it his mission to "start a religious conflict in Jerusalem, particularly in Arab neighborhoods all the way to Temple Mount."
"[Ben-Gvir] is willing to pay for his campaign photo-ops with Jewish and Arab blood," Galon claimed. The Meretz head added that Ben-Gvir was accompanied by hilltop "rioters" who "should be declared as a terror organization."
She further called for the defense minister to remove Ben-Gvir's immunity as an MK for "inciting violence and terror."