Settler leaders in Judea and Samaria lambasted the Biden administration after the New York Times reported US officials "fear" the M-16 rifles Israel was going to buy through a State Department transaction would end up with "security squads" comprising civilians in settlements who guard their community.
Video: Netanyahu to ABC: 'No ceasefire' without hostage release / Credit: Reuters
According to the report, State Department officials who oversee weapons sales have received "reassurances" that the 24,000 rifles destined to Israel would end up only with the uniformed police force rather than the civilians.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
"The American demand not to provide weapons to the squads shows anything but great friendship," Shlomo Ne'eman, chairman of the Yesha Council, in response.
According to Ne'eman, "Over half a million residents of the West Bank face terror attacks and incitement from mosques to carry out attacks on a daily basis, and just last Thursday, we lost Elhanan Klein, may his memory be a blessing, in a shooting attack."
Settler leaders also say the misconception about what settlers do is a result of the left-wing organizations maligning them abroad.
"At a time when our best men and women are fighting in Gaza, we are subjected to heinous attacks of blood libels against our residents by extreme left-wing organizations such as B'Tselem and Yesh Din. Instead of having an airlift for equipping the civilian squads for defense against enemy attacks, they take away our right to defend ourselves and our children. This false and irresponsible campaign may, God forbid, lead to bloodshed."
Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, also addressed the report. "Someone here is confused," Dagan said. "Residents of Judea and Samaria are in great danger. The concern is that what happened in the south will happen in the settlements of the West Bank that are adjacent to the Palestinian villages of the terrorist Palestinian Authority."
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
