This opinion piece revisits the Duma arson that left an infant dead and a child grievously injured to illustrate a broader surge in settler violence across the West Bank. It cites Yesh Din’s finding that roughly 94% of complaints about such attacks close without conviction and notes an International Court of Justice ruling on July 19 that Israel failed to prevent settler violence. The author argues that political choices at home have enabled impunity and urges former President Trump to use his leverage to demand immediate accountability and protection for Palestinian civilians.
Opinion: Only Trump Can Stop West Bank Settler Terrorism — An Urgent Plea
A decade ago, in a brutal arson attack on the Palestinian village of Duma, a Jewish extremist killed 18-month-old Ali Dawabsheh and, weeks later, his parents Saad and Riham also succumbed to their injuries. Their five-year-old son, Ahmad, survived but suffered severe burns to more than 60% of his body. The attackers left chilling graffiti — “revenge” and “Long live the Messiah King!” — on the walls of the home.
That atrocity is not an isolated incident. For decades, far-right Israeli settlers have carried out violent attacks across the occupied West Bank. Since the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, this violence has intensified: beatings, shootings, rock attacks on cars, arson against homes and mosques, destruction of olive groves, theft of livestock and equipment, and desecration of graves have become more frequent and more destructive.
Impunity and the Role of Policy
Accountability for these attacks is rare. Human rights group Yesh Din reports that roughly 94% of complaints and police files related to settler violence are closed without conviction, leaving victims with little recourse. This pattern of impunity is compounded by political developments: the current government has empowered far-right ministers who openly support settlement expansion and have adopted policies that many critics argue enable or tolerate settler aggression.
International Concern and Political Leverage
On July 19, the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel had failed to prevent settler violence — a legal and moral rebuke that highlights international concern. Domestically, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s stance that Judea and Samaria belong to Israel (a position contested by international law) and his appointments of ministers such as Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have alarmed observers who say these officials help ensure perpetrators act with impunity.
A Call to Action
Eilon Caspi argues that only former President Donald Trump, by using diplomatic leverage and clear demands, can force immediate change: pressing Israel to halt settler attacks and ensure perpetrators are prosecuted. Trump reportedly raised the issue with Netanyahu, but the author says a firmer, enforceable push is required to protect Palestinian civilians and prevent further massacres.
“I don’t want another child to be in Ahmad’s place. We experienced a great trauma, and I won’t forget it in 100 years,” said Hussein Dawabsheh, who has cared for the orphaned Ahmad since the attack.
The situation on the ground, the author warns, has passed a boiling point — without decisive international pressure and accountability, more innocent civilians may be killed.
About the author: Eilon Caspi, Ph.D., is a gerontologist and an adjunct clinical professor at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing.
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