US Condemns Escalating West Bank Violence as Netanyahu Disputes Reports

Washington denounced rising West Bank settler attacks as Israel's prime minister dismissed the allegations.

United States officials have condemned a surge of settler attacks targeting Palestinians and foreign visitors in the occupied West Bank during the olive harvest. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed reports of the violence, casting doubt on the severity and frequency of the incidents. The friction follows weeks of disruption across rural communities that have threatened local livelihoods and international monitors.

• Diplomatic reactionUnited States officials denounced the escalation of extremist violence directed at rural Palestinian communities and international observers.
• Official denialPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pushed back against the accusations, minimising the scope and validity of reports detailing the assaults.