Middle East Monitor / June 24, 2023
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir arrived on Friday at the illegal Jewish outpost of Evyatar to show support for its Jewish settlers.
While he was there, according to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Ben-Gvir demanded “much more than this settlement,” emphasizing that he fully backs the settlers.
“Run to the hilltops,” he urged, which, according to Haaretz, was a reference to the Hilltop Youth who continuously carry out attacks against Palestinians.
“Here, there should be a full settlement, not only here, but in all the hills around us. We should settle the Land of Israel, and at the same time, launch a military operation, take down buildings and eliminate terrorists. Not just one or two, but dozens and hundreds and, if needed, thousands,” Ben-Gvir stressed.
Head of the Judea and Samaria [West Bank] Settlement Council Yossi Dagan said: “The appropriate response to the Palestinian attacks is building more settlements in the West Bank, in addition to the military response – launching a large military operation in the Palestinian cities.”
Dagan added: “We call for the government to announce the legalization of Evyatar settlement to let settlers return to it. Only building settlements reduces attacks.”
