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Israeli Public Labels West Bank Jewish Rioters as Terrorists in Survey
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Survey Findings on the Kusra Incident
A poll released by the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) shows that only 5 % of Israelis express support for the Jewish rioters who entered the West Bank village of Kusra. A combined 51 % label the participants as “Israeli terrorists” (33 %) or “nationalist criminals” (18 %). More than half of respondents therefore judge the rioters harshly, indicating a broad consensus across a polarized society.
Political and Demographic Split in Opinions
The survey reveals stark differences by political affiliation. Among respondents identifying with the left, 63 % call the rioters “Israeli terrorists,” compared with 49 % of centrists and just 3 % of right-leaning participants. Arab Israelis are more likely than Jewish Israelis to use the terrorist label (55 % vs. 27 %). These gaps illustrate how partisan and ethnic identities shape perceptions of the violence.
Government Response and Context
The Kusra episode involved dozens of masked Israelis arriving in pickup trucks, throwing stones at Palestinian residents, and barricading themselves inside a home while family members remained inside; several Palestinians were wounded before security forces intervened, and no arrests were made. The incident, captured on footage from August 12, 2026, has strained Israel’s relations with the Trump administration and European nations, which have urged a crackdown. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose coalition includes far-right parties sympathetic to the settlers, had previously resisted strong action but ordered the removal of some outposts linked to the rioters earlier this month.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The survey shows that support among Israelis for the Jewish rioters in the West Bank is truly negligible, at just 5%,” — Yedidia Stern, JPPI president — Yedidia Stern, JPPI president