Amid escalating tensions between Jewish settlers and Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, Maj. Gen. Yehuda Fuks, the outgoing chief of Israel’s Central Command, issued a stern rebuke of Israeli government policies and condemned what he termed “nationalist crime” by Jewish settlers. Speaking at a farewell ceremony, Fuks emphasized the importance of a “strong and functioning” Palestinian Authority for Israel’s security interests, challenging the stance of far-right figures like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
Smotrich, a settler himself, has been accused of undermining the Palestinian Authority by withholding tax revenues collected by Israel on its behalf. General Fuks’ remarks highlighted his disapproval of this strategy and expressed concern over the rising violence by settlers, which he argued damaged Israel’s international standing and instilled fear among Palestinians. “That, to me, is not Judaism,” Fuks stated, adding that such actions conflicted with the values he was raised with.
Since Israel captured the West Bank from Jordan in 1967, Israeli settlements have expanded with both government approval and tacit support, leading to a complex legal and social landscape where Jewish settlers live under Israeli civil law while Palestinians are subject to military law. The international community largely considers these settlements illegal, though many are tolerated by the Israeli government. Critics argue that these settlements undermine the viability of a future Palestinian state by fragmenting the land.
The United Nations reported last year that violence against Palestinians surged following the October 7 attacks, with significant casualties and displacement. General Fuks warned that terrorizing Palestinians was a “dangerous mistake” that jeopardized Israel’s security.
Meanwhile, Smotrich continues to advocate for Israeli sovereignty over the entire West Bank. Recently, he struck a deal to release funds to the Palestinian Authority in exchange for the legalization of additional settler outposts and approved plans for thousands of new housing units in the West Bank. He emphasized his commitment to expanding Israeli settlements, stating, “We’re building the good country and thwarting the creation of a Palestinian state.”
Additionally, last month, the Israeli government approved the largest land seizure in the West Bank since the 1993 Oslo Accords, taking approximately five square miles in the Jordan Valley. This move has intensified concerns, with Peace Now, an organization monitoring settler activity, reporting that Israel has appropriated about nine square miles of West Bank land this year, marking a significant increase in land seizures.
This expansionist policy has strained relations with the international community, including the United States. White House National Security spokesman John Kirby reiterated that U.S. policy opposes settlement expansion, emphasizing that such activities undermine the prospects for a two-state solution. “Settlements continue to be counterproductive to a two-state solution,” Kirby stated.
