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Prominent Jewish leaders from around the world are calling on Israeli President Isaac Herzog to take immediate action against settler violence in the West Bank. The appeal comes in the form of an open letter signed by over 3,000 individuals, including diplomats, philanthropists, rabbis, and academics from countries such as Australia, Canada, and the US.The letter, facilitated by the London Initiative—a liberal Zionist network of 360 eminent Jewish, Israeli, and Israeli-Palestinian figures—expresses deep concern over the recent surge in attacks by Jewish extremists on Palestinian civilians. These attacks have included killings and arson, sparking international condemnation.The signatories, which include Malcolm Rifkind, the former British foreign secretary, argue that Israel's security forces have the capability to protect Palestinian civilians but have failed to act decisively. They suggest that this inaction implies a lack of directives from the government.The letter, timed to coincide with the Jewish festival of Passover, describes the violence as an abomination and a strategic threat to Israel's future. It claims that the violence is not only morally shameful but also damages the relationship between future generations and Israel.In response, President Herzog's office released a statement saying he shares the conviction that these acts of violence contradict Israel's founding values and the Jewish people's ethical tradition. Herzog has demanded that authorities use all available means to bring those responsible to justice and end the violence.The issue has been a point of contention, with a similar letter sent to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in August 2025. That letter, signed by 6,300 Jews worldwide, called for the restoration of humanitarian aid to Gaza and an end to the war there.

The Foreign Press Association (FPA) has strongly condemned a violent assault by Israeli soldiers on a CNN crew in the occupied West Bank. The incident occurred while the crew was reporting on the aftermath of an assault by Israeli settlers and the establishment of an illegal outpost near the Palestinian village of Tayasir.The CNN team, which included photojournalist Cyril Theophilos, was detained by Israeli soldiers who aggressively targeted the crew and Palestinian civilians, pointing their rifles at them despite the journalists identifying themselves. The soldiers attempted to infringe the crew's right to film, ordering them to stop and threatening to confiscate their camera.In a disturbing escalation, an IDF soldier approached Theophilos from behind, placed him in a chokehold, slammed him to the ground, and damaged his camera. The FPA described the incident as a direct attack on press freedom, emphasizing that the use of force was excessive and dangerous.The association has called for an investigation into the incident, asserting that such behavior reflects a deeply alarming pattern of hostility toward the media and cannot be tolerated. The military has announced that the incident will be looked into, with Lt Col Nadav Shoshani stating that the soldiers' conduct does not represent the IDF and that an apology has been made.This incident is the second such event involving CNN this month, following an unprovoked assault on a CNN producer by Israeli police officers during Ramadan, which resulted in a fractured wrist. The ongoing violence in the West Bank and the surge in deadly attacks by Israeli settlers have raised concerns about the safety of journalists and the protection of press freedom in the region.

As Israeli settlers intensify violent attacks against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank, often while Israeli forces stand by, a notable shift is occurring in US political circles. Even staunch supporters of Israel within the Democratic party are now publicly denouncing the escalating violence.In recent days, dozens of settlers have engaged in apparently coordinated attacks, torching homes and vehicles while targeting Palestinian civilians. Since the beginning of the month, Israeli settlers and police have killed at least 10 Palestinian civilians in the occupied territory, including two young brothers and their parents who were returning from a Ramadan shopping trip.Among the voices breaking ranks is Ritchie Torres, a New York Democratic representative and one of Israel's most ardent supporters in Congress. In a statement this week, he declared that "the crisis of extremist settler violence in the West Bank must be confronted, and the perpetrators must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." He called for "zero tolerance for violent extremism, no matter what form it takes."Another pro-Israel Democrat, Daniel Goldman of New York, condemned the violence as an "outrage" and urged House Speaker Mike Johnson to bring to vote proposed legislation seeking to impose sanctions against those "undermining prospects for a two-state solution by committing illegal violent acts." He also criticized the Trump administration for rescinding sanctions against violent settlers that had been issued under the Biden administration.Several other Aipac-backed politicians have joined the condemnation, including Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego, who called on the Israeli government to "stop being complicit," and Arizona Congressman Greg Stanton, who labeled the attacks "acts of terrorism." Ohio Democratic Congresswoman Shontel Brown accused Trump of "green-lighting settler violence," while Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen stated that "violence against Palestinian civilians in the West Bank is a national security threat to Israel and must be treated as such."The political shift comes as US public support for Israel has plummeted. An NBC News poll found that two-thirds of Democrats now say their sympathies lie with Palestinians over Israelis—a dramatic reversal with significant implications for upcoming elections. Meanwhile, 68% of Republicans continue to express stronger support for Israel.A Guardian analysis revealed that Israel has not prosecuted any of its citizens for killing Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank since the start of the decade. The UN has warned that the Israeli government has accelerated illegal settlement expansion, forcibly displacing approximately 36,000 Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem over the past year.Political analysts suggest these pro-Israel Democrats are "trapped between the money they've relied on to make their campaigns work and the voters they actually need to win," with condemnation of settler violence offering a way to express discontent without challenging the Israeli state itself.