Israel's real West Bank problem is not settler violence – it is the settlement enterprise – opinion

The article argues that while "settler violence" garners attention, the fundamental issue in the West Bank is the broader "settlement enterprise," which it terms "settlerism." This ideology, supported by nearly all major Israeli Jewish political parties, represents a structural form of violence against Palestinians. The author contends that "there is no settlement without violence," citing the example of Sa-Nur, a settlement re-established in 2025. Following its reconstruction, the neighboring Palestinian town of Jaba experienced increased military presence and nightly raids, as described by Mayor Muhammad Badad: "soldiers have been coming in almost every day." Furthermore, the military seized Palestinian land for a security fence and access road, impacting agricultural livelihoods. The article concludes that settlerism, through land appropriation and military control, undermines Palestinian rights and stands in opposition to democratic principles, calling for a shift in focus from individual acts of violence to the systemic nature of the settlement project.