The head of Israel’s security agency, Shin Bet, has warned the country’s leaders that Jewish terrorism in the West Bank is out of control and has become a serious threat to national security.
Ronen Bar issued the warning in a letter to the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, the attorney general and members of the Israeli cabinet, some of whom are outspoken backers of the extremist settlers responsible for the escalating violence.
Bar’s letter, sent last week but published by Israel’s Channel 12 News on Thursday night, has highlighted the wide, acrimonious gap between the far-right wing of Netanyahu’s coalition and Israel’s security apparatus.
The national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, one of those criticised by Bar for inflammatory behaviour, called for the Shin Bet head to be fired, triggering a rebuke on Friday from the defence minister, Yoav Gallant.
Yeah, the time for this condemnation was 20 years ago. It’s a bit late to seem genuine on the matter now.
They should have purged all the extremists after Rabin was murdered.
At the very least they should have clamped down on them. Israel’s lack of response has emboldened the settlers into thinking they can do whatever they want.
*76 years ago
Yeah I was just gonna say he’s saying this now? As though the settlers just popped up yesterday, as though this hasn’t been a problem since the colonization began.
But the consequences are now, hence the timing.
Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, after the Cave of the Patriarchs massacre.
I’ve haven’t seen such a strong condemnation of Jewish extremism or terrorism since from any MK or PM. The current lot are instead fanning the flames actively, and I’m glad to see someone in the government call Itmar out publicly.