(JTA) — Israel’s military chief of staff said that settler attacks on Palestinians and the army have "characteristics of terrorism."
Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, addressing high school students on Friday, said the "price tag" attacks extremist settlers have inflicted on Palestinians and on the army are "criminal and thuggish and have characteristics of terrorism," according to reports on Israel Radio and on Y-Net.
The attacks have included vandalism of army bases and physical attacks on Palestinians and their properly.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the phenomenon, but has resisted calls to characterize it as terrorism.
The extremists who carry out the attacks name them "price tag" because they are meant to exact retribution for Palestinian attacks.
