Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that violence toward military personnel would not be tolerated.
Netanyahu spoke following an incident overnight Saturday in which IDF forces operating near the settlement of Yitzhar in Samaria were forced to fire warning shots when a group of approximately 30 "hilltop youth" who live in and around the settlement began throwing rocks at the troops, injuring one lightly.
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"I am asking that we stand by IDF soldiers and commanders, who work day and night to protect the security of all citizens of Israel, without exception," Netanyahu said.
"I absolutely condemn any attack on IDF soldiers. There will be no tolerance toward lawbreakers who raise a hand against our soldiers," the prime minister concluded.
According to a message from the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, the rioters also slashed the tires of the IDF vehicles the soldiers were using.
The wounded soldiers were treated at the scene and then evacuated, but did not need to be hospitalized.
"The soldiers responded [to the violence] with crowd dispersal measures and fired warning shots, in accordance with protocol, and the riot was broken up. The IDF condemns any violent physical or verbal attack on those who serve, and takes incidents like this extremely seriously," the IDF statement read.
The incident came on the heels of a clash between IDF forces and Yitzhar settlers on Friday, when troops arrested a local man whom they suspected of intentionally blocking an IDF vehicle with his car.
The Yitzhar administrative council issued a statement calling the incident "serious" and described it as a "group of teens provoking Golani soldiers who arrived at the Kumi Uri hill, slashed tires, and threw rocks."
According to the statement, the Yitzhar council has laid down "clear rules of conduct as guidelines for the presence of teens in Yitzhar and on the [surrounding] hills. We are investing considerable time and resources to help develop the hilltops, while providing the youths with a sympathetic ear.
"We demand that these youths leave Yitzhar until further notice [and] are revoking any acceptance of their presence here," the statement read.
Politicians on both the Left and the Right also issued responses criticizing the settlers' violent behavior.
Transportation Minister and leader of the National Union party Bezalel Smotrich said, "I am joining the clear statement issued by the residents of Yitzhar condemning the serious incident by a small, violent group that is not representative [of the community]. Those responsible must be caught and punished to the full extent of the law. IDF soldiers and security forces are our brothers and sons, and as always, the settlements embrace them and condemn any violence against them."
Blue and White leader Benny Gantz said he "trusted that law enforcement officials would use every method at their disposal to handle the incident. As a former chief of staff and IDF commander for decades, I am sending a message to all the soldiers and officers who protest us, even on holiday eves, in the north, the south, Judea and Samaria and everywhere else in Israel – the people of Israel support you and embrace you. We will not ignore any attack on IDF soldiers."
