A disturbing report has emerged highlighting a failure by the Israeli military to act upon an advance warning regarding a settler attack on a Palestinian village in the West Bank. On August 15, over 100 Jewish settlers descended upon the Palestinian village of Jit, engaging in a violent rampage that resulted in one Palestinian killed, another injured, and multiple homes and cars set ablaze.
The Israeli military and police faced harsh criticism for their inability to prevent or adequately control the attack. Now, The Jerusalem Post has revealed that the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal intelligence agency, had alerted the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) about the impending attack a full 30 minutes beforehand. Despite the warning, there was no immediate mobilization from the IDF.
Although the Shin Bet had warned about the attack, the specific target was not identified. Sources informed The Post that as the settlers didn’t arrive in Jit until 8 pm, swift action by the IDF could have potentially prevented them from entering the village. However, the IDF reportedly took 30 minutes to respond, despite the Shin Bet emphasizing the severity of the warning.
Instead of mobilizing immediately and proactively, the IDF deployed its forces to general intersections and crossings, adopting a passive approach. The IDF, in its own defense, claims that it only received general warnings without specific information about the attackers’ origin or target. They state that they became aware of the attack at 8 pm and dispatched forces by 8:06 pm. However, the newspaper reports that even this force was insufficient to contain the attack or subdue the attackers, and the military required an additional 30 minutes to repel the rampaging settlers. No immediate arrests were made.
In a separate investigation released on Wednesday, the IDF acknowledged its failure to act appropriately during the Jit attack. The IDF stated, “The investigation revealed that the first force was unable to fully understand the situation. It tried to disperse the rioters and prevent harm to the Palestinians, but it should have acted with greater determination.”
The IDF’s delayed response and apparent lack of preparedness have raised serious questions about the military’s ability to protect Palestinian civilians from settler violence, particularly in light of the intelligence warning they received. This incident further underscores the complexities and tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the need for effective measures to ensure the safety of all individuals in the region.
