Israeli ex-officials urge Trump to pressure Netanyahu on West Bank violence

Nearly 600 former Israeli military, diplomatic, and intelligence officials have written to US President Donald Trump, urging him to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt what they describe as "settler terror" in the occupied West Bank. The letter, issued by the lobby group Commanders for Israel’s Security (CIS), warns that escalating violence risks igniting the region and poses severe threats to Israeli and US security.

The appeal coincides with Netanyahu’s visit to Washington for a meeting with Trump, following recent deadly clashes between settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank. The group, which comprises more than 550 retired officials including colonels and generals from the army, Mossad, Shin Bet, and police, stated that "no one but you, Mr President, can avert this calamity."

CIS accused certain government members of orchestrating chaos and protecting settlers and Israeli forces from legal scrutiny. The letter warns that the "swell in Jewish settler terror activity" could have consequences more catastrophic than the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. The group called on Trump to raise the issue with Netanyahu during their meeting in Washington, DC.

The diplomatic push occurs while fighting between Iran and the US is paused for diplomatic efforts. The letter follows widespread violence over the weekend after a shootout in the town of Tal, where two Israelis and four Palestinians were killed. Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh reported that the letter aligns with warnings from the Israeli defence establishment about settlers "taking on the initiative" and endangering Israeli soldiers.

Netanyahu is due to meet Trump on Tuesday in his seventh trip to the White House during Trump’s second term. The CIS described its mission as securing Israel’s future as a strong democratic home for the Jewish people, arguing that swift and decisive action is required to prevent further regional instability.