If Jewish teens are burning mosques, they must be held accountable

There is nothing easy about writing publicly when the wrongdoing comes from “our side.” It is far simpler to point outward at Hamas, Islamic Jihad, or the extremists who delight in harming Israel. But when Jewish teens burn mosques or intimidate Palestinian civilians in Judea and Samaria, honesty requires something harder: the willingness to say that these acts violate not only Israeli law, but the very Jewish and democratic values we claim set us apart. If we believe in the rule of law, then it must apply even when it is painful, politically inconvenient, or aimed at our own youth.

Israel’s claim to moral authority has never rested on slogans. It rests on a legal system built with intention — one that insists the Jewish state must protect human dignity, apply the law equally, and distinguish between defense and vigilantism. That claim is tested every time a group of youths acts violently in the territories, whether by torching a mosque, vandalizing property, or attempting to “patrol” Arab villages on their own initiative.

These aren’t harmless pranks or misguided political statements. They are crimes. And they weaken Israel far more than critics or NGOs ever could.

Israeli law is very clear about what constitutes violent, ideologically motivated intimidation. Terrorism isn’t defined by religion, age, or ethnicity. It is defined by what you do and why you do it. If a teenager throws a firebomb at a civilian home for ideological reasons, the law recognizes the act for what it is — and it does not become less serious because the perpetrator is Jewish.

That doesn’t mean every minor involved should be branded a terrorist. We treat children differently for good reasons. But refusing to name violence honestly, or hesitating to enforce the law fully, sends a message that Jewish extremism is somehow tolerable. That message harms Israel at home and abroad.

The problem is not a lack of legal tools. Israel already has criminal statutes, intelligence capabilities, and juvenile-justice frameworks suited to these cases. What is missing is consistent enforcement. Condemnations are quick; real action is slower. Intelligence identifies the same repeat offenders; consequences often do not follow. Officials say they oppose the violence, yet too often shrink from confronting the communities that shield or ignore it. And while some of these teens come from unstable backgrounds, anger or alienation does not excuse criminal behavior.

Meanwhile, the IDF — which should be protecting citizens from terrorism — is being asked to police Jewish minors. That is an impossible and unfair burden. Armies are not designed to de-radicalize teenagers, mediate community conflicts, or handle property crimes. These are civilian responsibilities, and the longer Israel leaves them to the army, the worse the problem becomes.

A serious response would include a dedicated, civilian-led enforcement unit for Judea and Samaria, trained specifically in juvenile intervention, deradicalization, and community enforcement. It would hold adults accountable when they incite or support illegal acts. And it would ensure that disengaged teens are placed under supervision, not left to drift toward further extremism.

The claim that these youths are “defending the land” is exactly backwards. A single video of Jewish teens burning a mosque or vandalizing a Palestinian home does more damage to Israel’s credibility than a month of hostile UN speeches. It undermines the argument that Israel exercises responsible sovereignty in the territories. It hands ammunition to those who claim Jewish presence there is inherently violent. And it betrays the values that make the Jewish state worth defending in the first place.

This is not just a youth problem. It is a challenge for all of us who care about Zionism, Jewish morality, and the future of Israel as a nation grounded in justice. If we truly believe the law matters, then we have to uphold it even when it forces us to confront our own community’s failings.

Israel does not need new values for this moment; it needs the courage to live by the ones it already proclaims. Violence and intimidation are not expressions of Jewish nationalism. They are a betrayal of it. And if we want a country that honors the rule of law, then the law must apply — even when it hurts.