Public Security Minister Omer Barlev faced backlash Monday from right-wing lawmakers after discussing the alleged settler violence against Palestinians in Judea and Samaria with Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland.
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Barlev told the senior American diplomat that Israel was working to tackle the phenomenon and was taking steps to bolster police presence in the area. He also added that efforts were directed to provide clearer instructions to Israeli troops on how to deal with attacks by Jews on Palestinians.
In response, Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked took to Twitter: "You are confused. The settlers are the salt of the earth. The violence that is shocking is the dozens of cases of stone-throwing and beatings of the Jews that happen daily, and all this with the encouragement and support of the Palestinian Authority. I suggest that you talk about this violence with Madam Nuland."
Religious Affairs Minister Matan Kahana echoed Shaked's criticism and said settlers were "not violent, but pioneers. It is sad to see a security man rich in experience and years, get such a false and distorted narrative."
Religious Zionist Party leader Bezalel Smotrich joined the storm, and called Barlev "a bastard."
"Hundreds of thousands of heroic settlers suffer terrorism daily and pay dearly in blood and you despicably spill their blood and take part in a false and antisemitic campaign that slanders them," Smotrich tweeted. He also criticized Shaked for "making [Barlev] a minister."
Likud wrote on Twitter, "Omer Barlev, who justified this week terrorist attacks 'for personal reasons,' today defames Israel at a political meeting and speaks of 'settler violence' instead of the rise of the Palestinian terror wave. The Bennett government continues to go off the rails." The post was shared by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
On Tuesday, Barlev responded to the criticism by saying, "I understand that it is really difficult for some of you to look in the mirror and face [the fact] that extreme settler violence [has become an issue] on the international stage, with foreign governments taking an interest.
"I recommend that those who have difficulty [understanding this] drink a glass of water. I will continue to fight Palestinian terrorism as if there is no extremist settler violence, and extremist settler violence as if there is no Palestinian terrorism," he said.
i24NEWS contributed to this report.
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