UN Envoy: Israel Shifts Coercive Tactics to Settlers in West Bank

Francesca Albanese, the United Nations’ special rapporte…

Francesca Albanese, the United Nations’ special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, has accused Israel of delegating repressive measures to civilian settlers in the occupied West Bank. In a statement released on Wednesday, she argued that the Israeli government is systematically using settler violence as a tool of control, while maintaining a veneer of official distance.

Albanese pointed to a pattern of escalating attacks by armed settlers against Palestinian communities, often with the implicit backing of Israeli security forces. She described this as a deliberate strategy to displace residents and expand illegal outposts, thereby undermining any prospect of a viable Palestinian state. The rapporteur stressed that such actions violate international law and constitute a form of collective punishment.

The envoy’s remarks come amid a surge in settler-related incidents, including land seizures, property destruction, and physical assaults. She noted that Israeli authorities frequently fail to intervene or prosecute offenders, creating an environment of impunity. Albanese called on the international community to pressure Israel to hold settlers accountable and to halt what she termed the "outsourcing" of coercion.

Israel has consistently rejected such allegations, dismi…

Israel has consistently rejected such allegations, dismissing them as biased and disconnected from security realities. Officials argue that settlers act independently and that the military operates to maintain order. However, Albanese countered that the state’s inaction effectively endorses the violence, making it complicit in the ongoing erosion of Palestinian rights.

She urged the UN Security Council to take concrete steps, including sanctions against individuals involved in settler abuses and a monitoring mechanism for the West Bank. The rapporteur concluded that without decisive action, the situation will continue to deteriorate, fueling further instability in the region.