Israeli settlers race to reshape West Bank as election nears

Israeli settlers race to reshape West Bank as election nears - The Washington Post

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Middle East conflict

Israeli settlers race to reshape West Bank as election nears

Surging settler violence and government-backed settlement expansion are transforming the territory under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

Today at 5:00 a.m. EDT

13 min

*Masked young Jewish settlers stand near the property of the Kaabnah family on the outskirts of the West Bank Christian town of Taybeh on Aug. 27. (Heidi Levine/For The Washington Post)*

By Sammy Westfall

and

Heidi Levine

SA-NUR, West Bank — Emboldened by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank have been carrying out a campaign of violence and intimidation unmatched in recent memory, attacking and displacing Palestinian communities and establishing scores of government-backed settlements and illegal outposts that are drastically reshaping the long-disputed map.

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What readers are saying

The comments express strong criticism of Israeli actions, particularly regarding state-sponsored violence and land appropriation. Many commenters draw parallels between current Israeli policies and historical events, condemning the displacement of Palestinians and the role of the... Show more

This summary is AI-generated. AI can make mistakes and this summary is not a replacement for reading the comments.

* Steve Hendrix and Lior Soroka Citing ‘ethnic cleansing,’ U.K. bars imports from Israeli West Bank settlements September 8, 2026
* Susannah George and Lior Soroka Netanyahu faces new depths of isolation ahead of address to U.N. — and Israeli voters September 24, 2026
* Lior Soroka Amid years of war, these Israelis are still pushing for peace June 14, 2026
* Beatriz Ríos E.U. puts sanctions on Israeli settlers after Hungary drops Orban’s veto May 11, 2026
* Abbie Cheeseman , Lior Soroka , Hazem Balousha , Siham Shamalakh and Heba Farouk Mahfouz As Israel takes steps to claim land in West Bank, U.S. stands by February 18, 2026
* Heidi Levine , Louisa Loveluck and Lior Soroka Israeli figures warn state has ‘lost control’ as West Bank settlers attack November 19, 2025

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