Recent violent incidents in the West Bank, characterized by settler attacks on Palestinian communities and lethal Israeli army raids, are not reactive but part of a deliberate strategy of colonization, according to an opinion piece.

The author argues that the presence of Israeli settlers has been used to justify military operations, but the distinction between settlers and soldiers has blurred significantly in recent years. This blurring, the piece suggests, is integral to a strategic sequencing aimed at territorial control.

The strategy, as described, involves the Israeli army weakening Palestinian communities through operations that damage infrastructure and result in detentions, torture, and killings. Following these military actions, settler incursions increase, and then the government's administrative arm solidifies territorial changes. The recent events in the village of Tal, where two settlers died after attacking a Palestinian community, have been cited as a catalyst for increased military operations and official statements about expanding settlements.

This approach, the article posits, has implications for the future of the West Bank, suggesting a continued and systematic effort to expand Israeli control. The author highlights that the Israeli government and security forces not only protect settlers but also benefit from their support, with settler groups reportedly lobbying to acquit soldiers accused of abuses.

The piece draws a parallel to events in Jenin, where Israeli army offensives were followed by settler incursions and the subsequent establishment of new settlements. This cycle, it argues, demonstrates a consistent pattern of weakening Palestinian presence and consolidating Israeli control.

The author contends that the Israeli military's actions, such as the "Operation Iron Wall" offensive in Jenin in 2025, serve to create conditions that facilitate further settlement expansion. This sequence is presented as a key component of the broader colonization effort.

Furthermore, the article suggests that settler groups play an active role in protecting Israeli soldiers who commit abuses against Palestinians. This symbiotic relationship between settlers and the military is portrayed as crucial to the success of the colonization strategy.

The piece concludes by questioning the framing of Israeli violence in the West Bank as solely "settler violence," arguing that it overlooks the broader, state-sanctioned strategy of colonization that involves both military and settler actions.