Netanyahu condemns settler violence against Palestinians in West Bank

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that Jewish settlers' violence against Palestinians is "criminal, violent acts."

Settlers entered two Palestinian communities in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Saturday.

The latest attack follows an escalation of violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

The Israeli government has been cautious about criticising the attacks.

But on Saturday, Netanyahu chose to criticise the settlers:

"I condemn in the strongest terms the criminal, violent acts carried out in the villages of Qusra and Jalud by a handful of rioters who violate the law," Netanyahu said in a statement.

He added that the violence is unfair to “law-abiding Jewish groups,” affects Israeli military operations and “damages Israel’s standing in the world.”