Overview

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has criticized an IDF drill that simulated Jewish settlers kidnapping Palestinians in the West Bank, demanding an investigation into the exercise.
• The drill, described as an 'extreme scenario' among over 100 practiced by the IDF, has sparked outrage among settler communities and Israeli officials.
• Netanyahu's condemnation is met with criticism from War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz, who accuses the Prime Minister of harming the IDF for political motives.
• The IDF apologizes for the exercise, stating it was a mistake to label settlers as an 'enemy force' and emphasizing that the drill was part of safety routines.
• Violence in the West Bank has escalated, with President Biden issuing sanctions against Israeli settlers accused of inciting violence, marking 2023 as the deadliest year for Palestinians in the region.