The Hague, August 16 (RHC)-- International humanitarian law expert Itay Epshtain on official state involvement in Israeli settler violence against Palestinians in the occupied territory has weighed in on the situation of Israeli settler violence.

In a series of posts on social media, the special adviser to the Norwegian Refugee Council said that Israeli “settler violence is aided and supported” by institutions of the Israeli state, including ministries and regional and local councils involved in the illegal settlements.

“Settler violence against Palestinians is attributable to the State of Israel and its central and local government,” Epshtain said.  The international community can, and must, employ “lawful countermeasures” to compel Israel to abide by international law, which is being “seriously and systematically breached through settler violence”, he said.

“The adequate response to the upsurge of settler violence, including the deadly incident tonight, is to subject Israeli ministries and the ministers who head them, and local government and heads of regional and local settlement councils to financial restrictions and travel bans,” Epshtain said.

The International Court of Justice affirmed in July that Israel’s military presence in the occupied Palestinian territory is unlawful, he said, and all illegal Israeli settlements must be immediately dismantled, and settlers must withdraw from Palestinian land.

“The organs of government that allow for continued Israeli presence, and the violence it brings with it, are an affront to international law and must be met with political resolve to impose sanctions,” he added.