Full Breakdown
Israeli Military’s Two-Tier Firing Policy and Accelerating Settlement Drive in the West Bank
5/7/2026, 1:26:53 AM
Two-Tier Firing Policy Exposed
Major-General Avi Bluth, West Bank commander, said the army was “killing like we haven’t killed since 1967” and labeled Palestinian stone-throwing “terrorism” while insisting the military should avoid firing on Israeli settlers, citing “profound societal consequences.” He said 42 Palestinian stone-throwers were killed in 2025.
Legislative and Settlement Context
Since early 2025 Israel introduced a death-penalty law for Palestinians in the West Bank and a “de facto annexation” plan for the E1 zone, approved in August 2025, envisioning thousands of units on about 12,000 dunams. The government also appointed settler Yehuda Eliyahu, an ally of minister Bezalel Smotrich, as head of the Israel Land Authority, which controls roughly 92 % of state land.
Violence and Settlement Data
UN OCHA recorded 12 Palestinians killed in settler attacks since 28 February 2026, 10 killed by settlers in 2025, and at least 226 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces during that time. Israel approved 54 new settlements in 2025 and maintains over 500,000 settlers in the West Bank, home to roughly three million Palestinians.
Human Rights Impact and Criticism
B’Tselem’s Yair Dvir said the policies “have underpinned Israel’s apartheid for years.” Orly Noy noted soldiers in Area C were unaware of duties to protect Palestinians from settler violence. Former EU officials urged targeted sanctions, visa bans and business restrictions on settlement actors. Critics say the two-tier firing policy and settlement expansion amount to ethnic cleansing and breach international law.
Official Responses, Gaps and Conflicting Reports
Israeli authorities have not replied to Al Jazeera’s request for comment on Bluth’s remarks. Eliyahu’s appointment was approved despite a legal adviser’s conflict-of-interest objection. No Israeli statistics on settler-related violence are published; UN OCHA records 12 Palestinians killed in settler attacks since 28 February 2026, 10 killed by settlers in 2025, and at least 226 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in the same period.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This [stone throwing] is terrorism, not popular or grassroots terrorism – there’s only popular [‘folk’] dancing,” — Major-General Avi Bluth
- “What’s new is that statements like this have become everyday comments for politicians, military leaders and those in the media.” — Yair Dvir, B’Tselem
- “The EU and its Member States must act now -- including at the Foreign Affairs Council of 11th May -- to oppose, together with partners, Israeli illegal settlement actions, notably those in the E1 area,” — Signatories of the EU former officials’ letter
Upcoming Developments
The Israeli parliamentary elections later in 2026 are seen as a chance to shift policy. The EU Foreign Affairs Council on 11 May will consider sanctions on settlement actors. Legal petitions challenging Eliyahu’s appointment are expected before the High Court, and UN monitoring of civilian casualties will continue.
