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Ex-Israeli security chiefs warn Trump of Jewish settler 'terrorism' danger
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Conflict & Security

Ex-Israeli security chiefs warn Trump of Jewish settler 'terrorism' danger

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Hundreds of former Israeli security officials warned U.S. President Donald Trump about the dangers of Jewish settler "terrorism" in the West Bank.
  • The officials urged Trump to pressure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to allow security forces to intervene against escalating settler violence.
  • The letter highlights the threat to Israeli security, U.S. interests, and regional stability posed by unchecked settler actions.

Nearly 600 former Israeli security chiefs have sent a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump, alerting him to the dangers posed by Jewish settler "terrorism" in the West Bank. The officials urged Trump to press Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to permit security forces to act against the escalating violence.

the escalation of violence in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) threatens Israel's security, U.S. interests, and regional stability.

— Commanders for Security of IsraelDescribing the perceived threat from escalating settler violence in the West Bank.

The letter, published by Commanders for Security of Israel, a group comprising hundreds of former generals and senior officials from Israel's military, Mossad, Shin Bet, police, and diplomatic service, states that "the escalation of violence in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) threatens Israel's security, U.S. interests, and regional stability."

The former military leaders directly blame Netanyahu's government for preventing the security apparatus from intervening and mitigating the violent attacks by Israeli settlers. These attacks, which occur daily in the West Bank, include the destruction of livestock, burning of property, beatings, and killings of Palestinians, leading to the forced displacement of entire villages.

It is no secret that members of our government are responsible for much of this chaos, partly by granting immunity before the law and enforcing it upon their armed and messianically motivated men.

— Commanders for Security of IsraelAttributing responsibility for settler violence to members of the Israeli government.

"It is no secret that members of our government are responsible for much of this chaos, partly by granting immunity before the law and enforcing it upon their armed and messianically motivated men," the letter states. "As a result, those currently holding the highest positions in Israel's security apparatus face an impossible dilemma: act according to their professional judgment and duty, which demand firm law enforcement, or obey political directives, as required in a democratic state."

As a result, those currently holding the highest positions in Israel's security apparatus face an impossible dilemma: act according to their professional judgment and duty, which demand firm law enforcement, or obey political directives, as required in a democratic state.

— Commanders for Security of IsraelExplaining the difficult position of security officials caught between professional duty and political directives regarding settler violence.

According to UN OCHA, at least 720 Palestinians have been injured by Israeli settlers since the start of 2026, a drastic increase from one injury every three days in 2020 to more than three per day in 2026. Palestinian presidency data indicates that at least 87 Palestinians have died from Israeli fire, with 21 killed by settlers and the rest by the army. The signatories urge Trump to send Netanyahu a "firm and clear message" on this matter, emphasizing that while the security apparatus performs well against Hamas, it faces "broad restrictions" concerning Jewish settler terrorism. They warn that this trend threatens to undermine Israel's security, harm U.S. interests, regional stability, and hinder initiatives like the Abraham Accords.

broad restrictions

— Commanders for Security of IsraelDescribing the limitations faced by the security apparatus when dealing with Jewish settler terrorism.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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