An Israeli government official from the far-right faction has rejected the United States’ characterization of a lethal attack by Israeli settlers on a Palestinian as a “terror attack.” Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter suggested that the U.S. definition is not precise and relies on media reports rather than intelligence.
The incident involved the killing of Qusai Jamal Maatan, a 19-year-old Palestinian, during clashes with armed settlers in Burqa, near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank.
Dichter, a former head of the Shin Bet internal security service, emphasized that what actually transpired is what matters to them. He also questioned the accuracy of media reporting, which he suggested could contain correct, incorrect, or biased information.
The U.S. State Department had referred to the incident as a “terror attack” in a statement, condemning the killing and urging accountability and justice. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller reaffirmed this terminology, indicating it was a deliberate choice. He emphasized the importance of accountability and justice regardless of the perpetrators.
Two settlers were detained by Israel in relation to the incident.
One of them reportedly had ties to the far-right Jewish Power party, whose leader, Itamar Ben-Gvir, is the public security minister. Ben-Gvir has previously advocated for the displacement of Palestinians.
Settler violence against Palestinians and their property is not uncommon and often occurs with the backing or coordination of the Israeli military. Israeli settlements in the West Bank are deemed illegal under international law, with many incidents of violence tied to these settlements.
The West Bank has witnessed increased violence, with a notable number of Palestinian fatalities in 2023, raising concerns over the escalating tensions. The United Nations has attributed this spike in violence to the right-wing government’s rise to power in Israel. U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration has criticized actions and statements by the Israeli coalition government without taking direct countermeasures.
Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, which began after the 1967 Middle East war, remains a contentious issue. Palestinians aspire to establish a state including this territory. However, progress in negotiations has stalled for nearly a decade.
In addition to these developments, Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has declined to allocate funds to Palestinians, and the current budget reinforces the pro-settlement and religious policies of the ruling coalition.
