Full Breakdown
Israeli President Backs IDF Action Against Settler Violence Amid Diplomatic Tour
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Backing of Military Measures
President Isaac Herzog told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that he gave senior Israel Defense Forces (IDF) commanders “full backing” to take whatever steps are needed to stop violent extremist settler attacks in the West Bank. The statement followed a meeting earlier this month with the IDF’s West Bank division commander and other senior officers. Herzog’s pledge was reiterated during a press briefing in Budapest.
Context of Recent Violence and the Hungarian Visit
The pledge came a day after Israeli forces detained New York Democratic congressional candidate Brad Lander together with about 90 rabbis and activists who were accompanying Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest. Clashes between Jewish extremists and Palestinians were photographed on October 16, 2026, showing settlers standing beside a fire near Ramallah. Earlier that weekend, Israeli police arrested ten suspects in a series of settler attacks, including an assault on Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine that left her with four broken vertebrae; nine of the ten suspects were later released.
During the same trip, Herzog met Hungarian President András Baka and Prime Minister Péter Magyar. He described Hungary as a “friend and an ally,” praised Magyar as a “brilliant” leader, and noted that the visit was the first by a senior Israeli official since Magyar succeeded Viktor Orbán in April. Herzog also referenced his father, former President Chaim Herzog, who made the first Israeli presidential visit to Hungary in 1991.
Official Responses and International Reactions
IDF Chief of Staff Lt-Gen. Eyal Zamir ordered the deployment of an additional Border Police company to the West Bank, slated to begin operations in late November. Herzog personally called Levine to apologize for the attack, saying he was “morally tormented” by the incident. The European Union called for Israel to assume “full accountability” in preventing further violence against Palestinians, journalists, and diplomats.
Deployment Plans and Legal Actions
The newly assigned Border Police unit is intended to combat extremist violence, complementing ongoing police investigations that have already led to multiple arrests. Israeli authorities continue to process the cases of the ten suspects, with nine already released pending further review.
Implications for Regional Stability and Israeli-Hungarian Ties
Herzog’s firm stance on settler violence, combined with the EU’s demand for accountability, underscores heightened international scrutiny of Israel’s security policies in the West Bank. At the same time, the warm reception from Hungarian leaders signals a strengthening bilateral relationship, potentially influencing Israel’s diplomatic positioning in Europe amid broader debates over settlement activity and regional security.