IDF’s West Bank chief said to warn PM that settler attacks could spark major Palestinian terror outbreak

The most senior Israel Defense Forces officer in the West Bank warned during a closed-door security assessment on Monday that mounting settler violence could ignite a broader escalation in the territory, Channel 12 reported.

“There has been a significant decline in the scale of [Palestinian] terrorism over the past two years, but there is one match that could ignite everything in an instant – nationalist crime,” Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth was quoted by Channel 12 news as telling Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials.

“The IDF’s attention is constantly being diverted to such incidents instead of thwarting Palestinian terrorism,” he reportedly added.

According to the report, Netanyahu then asked IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir what the military would do if the West Bank erupted and what plan it had in place.

“We did not come prepared to present that at this meeting,” Zamir reportedly replied.

Defense officials cited by the TV network stressed the IDF does have a contingency plan, but said the meeting was convened at short notice and was expected to focus specifically on settler violence, leaving Zamir without the asked-for presentation and details on how the IDF would deal with a drastic escalation in Palestinian West Bank terrorism.

It was at least the second time in recent days that IDF brass have warned that the surge of near-daily settler attacks — which are rarely prosecuted — could lead to an outbreak of Palestinian terrorism.

A Channel 12 report on Friday quoted an unnamed senior military official suggesting more forceful action on the part of Israel was needed to stem the violence, and lamenting that some government officials support the extremist settlers.

“There’s a group here that wants chaos,” the official reportedly said. “Support from part of the local leadership and parts of the government make enforcement difficult. It’s unclear whether there’s anyone who wants enforcement. Commanders on the ground feel alone in the campaign.”

Settler violence has mounted in recent years, with near-daily, sometimes deadly attacks taking place throughout the West Bank, but few suspects arrested and charged.

Critics accuse the government of condoning or even encouraging the attacks. In addition, IDF troops have been accused of standing by and allowing the violence, or even aiding it in some cases.

Violence in the West Bank has escalated sharply in recent months, mostly involving settler attacks on Palestinians. There have also been several attacks by Palestinian assailants on Israelis, including a stabbing Sunday near the Jordan Valley village of al-Auja that left an Israeli man moderately wounded. The IDF arrested a 16-year-old Palestinian male suspected of carrying out the attack.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.