Nearly 600 Israeli military, diplomatic, and intelligence officials have asked United States President Donald Trump to urge Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to curb settler violence in the occupied West Bank.
In a letter, lobby group Commanders for Israel’s Security (CIS), made up of nearly 600 former officials appealed to Trump, saying that he was the only one capable of helping to avoid the “calamity” of escalating violence in the West Bank and its implications for Israeli, US, and regional security.
CIS is a Zionist movement of more than 550 retired Israeli army Colonels and Generals, as well as equivalent ranks in Mossad, Shin Bet, Israeli Police, the foreign service, and other corps.The group’s stated mission is “securing Israel’s future as the strong democratic home of the Jewish people.”
The group called on Trump to raise the issue with Netanyahu in their meeting in Washington, DC, later today. Netanyahu is due to meet Trump on Tuesday in his seventh trip to the White House during Trump’s second term.
The letter comes after widespread pogroms and violence by Israeli settlers across the occupied West Bank over the weekend following a deadly shootout in the town of Tal in which two Israelis and four Palestinians were killed.
Palestinian residents and rights organisations reported that settlers attacked homes, vehicles and agricultural property in multiple villages after the shooting. Israeli security forces were deployed to several affected areas as authorities sought to contain the unrest and prevent further clashes.
The Israeli military has said it is investigating incidents linked to the violence, while government officials have condemned attacks on civilians regardless of the perpetrators. However, critics have argued that stronger measures are needed to prevent repeated settler attacks and hold those responsible accountable.
CIS also wrote that it is “no secret” that certain government members “orchestrate much of this chaos,” including by protecting settlers and Israeli forces from the scrutiny of the law.
Trump and Netanyahu are expected to discuss a range of issues during their meeting in Washington, including regional security, the conflict in Gaza, relations with Iran and broader Middle East developments. It was not immediately clear whether the concerns raised in the CIS letter would feature on the official agenda.
CIS Warns Of Severe Ramifications Of Settler Violence
Commanders for Israel’s Security (CIS), noted in the letter that “unless arrested swiftly and decisively,” escalating violence in the West Bank is poised to ignite the region and carries severe ramifications for both Israeli security and U.S. regional interests. “It is our professional judgment that no one but you, Mr. President, can avert this calamity,” the letter said.
The group added that the “swell in Jewish settler terror activity” risks consequences that may prove even more catastrophic than the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and its multi-front fallout.
The occupied West Bank has experienced a sharp increase in violence in recent years, with frequent military raids, attacks by Palestinian militants and retaliatory violence involving Israeli settlers. Humanitarian organisations have repeatedly expressed concern over the deteriorating security situation and its impact on civilians.
International law considers Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank illegal, a position supported by the United Nations and much of the international community. Israel disputes that interpretation and has continued expanding settlements, arguing that the territory is historically and strategically significant.
Palestinian officials have repeatedly urged the international community to take stronger action against settler violence, arguing that attacks on civilians and property have intensified in recent months. Israeli officials, meanwhile, maintain that security forces act against unlawful violence while continuing operations aimed at preventing militant attacks.
The intervention by hundreds of former Israeli security officials is significant because it reflects concerns from individuals with decades of experience in military, intelligence and diplomatic affairs. Their appeal also highlights growing debate within Israel over how ongoing violence in the West Bank could affect national security and regional stability.
As Trump and Netanyahu prepare for their meeting, the letter has added to calls for greater efforts to prevent further violence and protect civilians. Whether the appeal influences discussions between the two leaders remains uncertain, but it underscores the continuing challenges facing policymakers as tensions persist in the occupied West Bank.
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