Israeli journalist Gideon Levy has stated that escalating violence against Palestinians in the West Bank represents an organised campaign of ethnic cleansing backed by Israeli authorities. Speaking to Anadolu Agency in Jerusalem, Levy described the attacks as systematic and aimed at gradually displacing Palestinians, starting with vulnerable communities like shepherds and small groups before moving to larger villages and buildings.
Data cited by Levy shows attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians rose from 1,291 in 2023 to 1,449 in 2024, reaching 1,835 in 2025. In the first four months of 2026, a further 761 attacks were recorded. Levy noted that more than 90 percent of cases opened by Israeli police against settlers close without charges, while conviction rates remain around 3 percent, creating what he describes as effective impunity.
Levy stated that the Israeli military directly supports the campaign and that soldiers sometimes work alongside settlers in the attacks. He accused Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich of playing an important role in supporting settlements through government funding and said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also bears responsibility. Levy emphasised that the Israeli army’s primary function in the West Bank is to protect settlers rather than prevent violence.