Israel’s Defense Minister Backs Up Security Forces Dealing with Israelis Rioting in Arab Areas

Jerusalem, 17 November, 2025 (TPS-IL) — Israel’s Minister of Defense Israel Katz said that he gives his full support to “all security forces currently operating in the field following the violent events that occurred in Judea and Samaria.”

The statement, released on Twitter, came after a group of Israelis on Monday night raided an arab village near Bethlehem, setting fires and committing acts of vandalism.

“We will not tolerate the attempts of a small group of violent and criminal anarchists who break the law to take the law into their own hands and tarnish the settler community, nor will we allow them to harm IDF (Israel Defense Forces) soldiers, undermine the order, or divert the forces from their missions of defending Israeli civilians and thwarting Palestinian terrorism,” said Katz.

“There will be no tolerance toward anyone who acts with violence,” he added. “The security forces will continue to operate in the field, and we will continue to back them fully.”

Katz pledged that in the coming weeks what he called a “precedent-setting decision” will be brought for government approval that will provide tools and a budget for the special project officer who was appointed to deal with such situations, Lt. Col. (Res.) Avichai Tneami, that will allow him to carry out his duties.