Rabbi Shammai Engelmayer contributed to this article.

Jews are called to be a holy people, a kingdom of priests, God’s witnesses, and a light unto the nations. The Torah commands Jews 36 times to love the stranger and not oppress the vulnerable, repeatedly reminding us that we were strangers in Egypt. Compassion, justice, and respect for human dignity are therefore at the heart of Jewish life.

Jews, including Israelis,  have much to be proud of in terms of our values, traditions, and accomplishments. But we have not always lived up to these ideals. Especially troubling are the mounting acts of violence by Jewish extremists against  Palestinians in Judea and Samaria and the failure of Israeli authorities to prevent them and hold the perpetrators fully accountable. These attacks have included arson against mosques, vandalism of homes, vehicles, and olive groves, racist graffiti, assaults on Palestinian residents, destruction of water and energy infrastructure, theft of crops, attacks on shepherds and farmers, and the intimidation and displacement of entire communities.

It is important to note that the vast majority of Jews in Judea and Samaria are peaceful and patriotic and that acts of violence are also committed by Palestinians, acts that should be equally condemned and punished. As the Torah indicates, ........

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