TEL AVIV — Rioting by settlers in the West Bank this week and the establishment of several illegal outposts in recent days highlight an alarming phenomenon — of Benjamin Netanyahu's government losing control across the board, at an accelerated pace.
This lawlessness is compounded by the absence of governance on the part of the Palestinian Authority (PA) which is turning the northern part of the West Bank into a no-man's-land.
Israeli settlers established seven illegal outposts in the West Bank on Wednesday and Thursday to avenge the June 20 killing of four settlers by Palestinian gunmen linked to Hamas. Ynet reported Friday that the authorities were aware of the illegal activity but took no action to block it. Also after the attack, hundreds of settlers, including coalition Knesset members, traveled to the illegal West Bank outpost of Evyatar, saying they were returning there for good. Past attempts to resettle Evyatar were stymied by the military, but not this time.
Extremist settler groups have carried out a series of acts of revenge attacks in recent days, setting fire to cars and homes in Palestinian villages following the deadly attack on Tuesday that claimed the lives of four Israelis in the settlement of Eli.
