Honestly, I feel like they might react so strongly not because they feel threatened, but because they consider indigenous groups so unthreatening they can dispel with the thin veneer of civility and apply the boot directly wherever possible.

The absolute mental gymnastics. State violence isn't wielded against non-threats. Would you say that the state didn't view Fred Hampton and the BPP as a threat? Or that isntreal doesn't view Gaza as a threat? Your words imply as much.

I'm not claiming the state sees these threats as existential. But to claim there's no perceived threat at all is genocide denial.