600 Former Israeli Officials Urge Trump to Halt Settler Violence in the West Bank
In an unprecedented letter, hundreds of former Israeli security officials have called on Donald Trump to intervene to stop settler violence in the West Bank ahead of his meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu.
Nearly 600 former Israeli security and diplomatic officials have urged U.S. President Donald Trump to intervene urgently against “acts of violence committed by settlers” in the West Bank.
On Sunday, Israeli settlers set fire to two mosques, one of which was still under construction, in the occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian sources. The incidents occurred amid heightened tensions following clashes on Friday that left six people dead, including four Palestinians.
In recent days, several areas of the West Bank have witnessed violent confrontations between settlers and Palestinian youths following deadly clashes in the village of Tal, near Nablus, which resulted in deaths and injuries.
A Firm Message
The newspaper reported that former military, intelligence, and diplomatic officials had asked Trump to deliver “a firm and unequivocal message” to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warning that violence in the West Bank could endanger Israel, destabilize the region, and derail the U.S. president’s diplomatic initiatives.
The signatories, who include former officials from the Israeli military, Mossad, Shin Bet, and the Foreign Ministry, warned that escalating settler violence could have consequences “even more catastrophic than the October 7, 2023 attack and the subsequent multi-front escalation.”
The letter, which was sent to the White House on Sunday, came ahead of the Trump-Netanyahu meeting, amid growing concerns within Israeli security circles over the impact of violence in the West Bank on Israeli security and U.S. interests.
Netanyahu is scheduled to travel to Washington on Monday and meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
Personally Intervene to Prevent the “Catastrophe”
The former officials urged the U.S. president to intervene personally and pressure Israel to halt settler violence.
Members of the “Commanders for Israel’s Security,” the organization behind the letter, wrote: “No one but you, Mr. President, can prevent this catastrophe.” They added: “We sincerely hope that you will use your upcoming meeting with our prime minister to deliver a firm and unequivocal message on this matter.”
The former officials argued that the continuation of violence, combined with policies aimed at “economically strangling the Palestinian Authority and through other means,” would undermine Israel’s security, destabilize the region, and derail the diplomatic initiatives that the U.S. administration is seeking to advance.
They also warned that the escalation of settler violence could eliminate the prospects of implementing Trump’s 20-point plan for the Gaza Strip.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, the letter was sent to the White House and to other prominent figures close to Trump, including his son-in-law Jared Kushner and his special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Accusations Against Netanyahu’s Government
The former security officials accused several members of Netanyahu’s government of contributing to the escalation of violence. They asserted that some ministers “are managing a large part of this chaos” and providing protection to armed settlers motivated by “extreme religious beliefs,” thereby obstructing the enforcement of the law against them.
The signatories explained that this situation places current Israeli security officials in an extremely difficult dilemma: either to fulfill their professional duty, which requires them to enforce the law firmly, or to comply with directives from the political leadership, as required by the nature of a democratic system.
The organization “Commanders for Israel’s Security” describes itself as Israel’s largest movement bringing together retired generals and officers, as well as former senior officials from the Mossad, Shin Bet, police, National Security Council, and diplomatic corps.
The organization advocates a vision based on security separation from the Palestinians and the pursuit of a two-state solution within a regional framework.
The West Bank has witnessed a sharp escalation in violence since the outbreak of the war in the Gaza Strip. Attacks by settlers against Palestinians have become almost daily occurrences.
More than 500,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank in settlements considered illegal under international law.
