After US Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned "settler violence" and spoke of the "need to stop extremist violence against Palestinians" during a meeting with Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas yesterday (Sunday), an Israeli diplomatic source told Israel National News - Arutz Sheva that this is a "distortion of reality."
"The very concept of 'settler violence' is a distortion of reality, and it is clear to anyone with an understanding that almost all settlers are regular, law-abiding people," the official said.
"The reported cases of violence are sometimes serious," he said, "but all the residents oppose extreme acts."
The diplomatic source said that the State of Israel consistently emphasizes in messages to the international community that when there are cases of violence, it is committed by extremists, and does not at all represent the residents of Judea and Samaria.
The source pointed out that in many cases the perpetrators of the violence are not residents of Judea and Samaria at all.
When violent incidents occur, the source assured that the State acts firmly to prevent and thwart these incidents and emphasized that such actions are contrary to Israel's values and also harm Israel at the international level.
Last night, the official said that it is of great importance to respond to the terrorist threats in the Judea and Samaria region, especially the threat to copy the October 7 massacre in the region.
Addressing the Palestinian Authority, which rules Area A of Judea and Samaria, the source said that "the option that they will turn on us is there."
Regarding the transfer of funds to the PA, the source clarified that the funds would be transferred on condition that nothing is transferred to the Gaza Strip and emphasized: "If they don't want, they won't get."