Israeli Settlement Minister Orit Strok, of the Religious Zionist Party led by Bezalel Smotrich, likened the Israeli security leaders to being Russian Wagner mercenaries that recently rebelled against Russian President Vladimir Putin before backing down after an agreement between the two sides.

The Israeli Army Chief of Staff, Herzi Halevy, Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai, and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar issued a joint statement describing the settler attacks as "terrorist."

"What is this, Wagner's power? Who are you? Are you Wagner's power?" Stroeck said in an interview with Haredi radio station "Kol Berma".

And she considered what is happening as "a disgrace to Israel," noting that these leaders are aware of the current government and are prohibited from issuing any statements that contradict its policy as they please. As reported in the Haaretz newspaper website.

She added: "The heads of the security establishment failed not only by publishing a joint declaration, but also by defining the settler riots as national terrorism."

Later, the Israeli minister apologized for comparing the security leaders to being part of Wagner's force, but said that she would not back down from objective criticism.

"With all due respect, I really appreciate the chief of staff, I really appreciate the commissioner, I really appreciate the chief of the Shin Bet, everything is fine, they work day and night for Israel's security, but they are not the ones who are supposed to teach us morals," she said.

She added: "The role of the heads of the security establishment is to deal with terrorism."

Stroke's remarks sparked widespread Israeli reactions, rejecting them.