Why ‘pogrom’ best describes what’s happening in the occupied West Bank

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank should not be described only as “clashes” or “riots,” arguing that the pattern fits the definition of a pogrom. The piece says these are organized attacks directed at a targeted minority and notes that such incidents are often presented in a way that obscures their scale and character.

The report is framed as an explainer by Al Jazeera’s Zeina Al Qawasmi, published on 24 August 2026. It focuses on the occupied West Bank, where settler violence has long been a feature of the conflict and where Palestinians live under Israeli military occupation. In this context, the term “pogrom” is being used to emphasize the asymmetry between attackers and victims, and the possibility of broader tolerance or backing from state authorities.

The article matters because terminology shapes how violence is understood in international coverage and public debate. By challenging softer labels, Al Jazeera is urging readers to view the attacks as part of a wider pattern of anti-Palestinian violence rather than isolated confrontations. More broadly, the discussion reflects continuing disputes over how to characterize events in the occupied territories and what responsibility authorities bear for preventing them.