Likud minister says West Bank Palestinians should be temporarily moved to protect troops

Former Shin Bet security service head Avi Dichter is backing Foreign Minister Israel Katz’s call for Israel to evacuate Palestinian civilians from areas of the West Bank in order to intensify military activities in the territories.

“If we need to evacuate people, we’ll evacuate them,” in order to protect IDF troops, Dichter, a Likud minister, tells Army Radio.

He is quick to note that Palestinians would not be sent outside the West Bank, and that they would be able to return once it’s safe.

“If we don’t take the fight there, we’ll end up having to wage it here,” he says.

The station reports that the army says it is not asking Palestinians in the Nur Shams camp near Tulkarem or elsewhere to leave, as had been reported in some Arabic media.

According to the outlet, Israel did broadcast messages to Palestinians letting them know that those who did wish to evacuate could do so by moving into “safe zones.”