Settler violence is a political blind spot in Israel’s election campaign - opinion

An opinion piece argues that settler violence in the West Bank is a political blind spot in Israel's 2026 election campaign. It cites a survey ranking the future of Judea and Samaria last among voter priorities, and explains why opposition leaders avoid making it a central issue due to its association with support for a Palestinian state and foreign criticism.

An opinion piece argues that settler violence in the West Bank is a political blind spot in Israel's 2026 election campaign. The article cites a recent survey showing that while 78% of the public consider the future of Judea and Samaria and a Palestinian state important, voters rank it last among priorities: cost of living at 35%, haredi conscription at 18%, the Iran war at 17%, judicial reform at 16%, and the future of Judea and Samaria at just 7%. The author contends that opposition leaders avoid making settler violence a central issue because it is politically risky: criticizing settlers is heard as supporting a Palestinian state, and the issue is framed by settlement advocates as a foreign-funded campaign. The piece notes that Defense Minister Israel Katz fired the head of IDF Central Command for holding a violent settler in custody, a move that was later walked back, and that right-wing politicians only condemn settler violence when it directly targets IDF troops or involves extreme acts like the Jit rampage. The article concludes that settler violence will not be a wedge issue in the election because attacking settlers makes one sound left-wing.