JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday condemned violence against Palestinians by Jewish settlers in the West Bank, saying in a state of law, only the police and the military had the right to use force.
"There is, sadly, violence from extremists that we must condemn," Gallant told a news conference, hours after the United States announced it would impose visa bans against individuals involved in undermining peace, security or stability in the occupied West Bank.
The West Bank, among the territories where Palestinians seek statehood, has experienced a surge of violence in recent months amid expanding Jewish settlements and a nearly decade-old impasse in U.S.-sponsored peacemaking.
"Nobody else has any authority to use violence," he said.
(Reporting by Emily Rose; editing by James Mackenzie ; Editing by Sandra Maler)
Persons:
Yoav Gallant, Gallant, Emily Rose, James Mackenzie, Sandra Maler
Organizations:
Israeli, West Bank, United, The West Bank
Locations:
JERUSALEM, United States, Israel