Hundreds of former Israeli colonels and generals write to Trump: Stop Netanyahu, settler terrorism can have catastrophic consequences

More than 500 former Israeli generals and senior security officials have sent a strongly worded letter to U.S. President Donald Trump urging him to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt escalating violence in the West Bank. The letter was released hours before Trump’s scheduled meeting with Netanyahu in Washington, and it warns that continued attacks by Jewish settlers could lead to catastrophic consequences, even worse than the Hamas atrocities of October 7. The letter is signed by Matan Vilnai, a former head of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), on behalf of the Commanders for Israel Security group, which includes 550 retired officers from the IDF, Mossad, Shin Bet, police, the National Security Council (NSC), and the diplomatic corps. The group has long supported a two-state solution and emphasized the need to reduce tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, including strengthening Palestinian Authority governance. In their message, the signatories stated that while Israeli intelligence agencies excel at dealing with Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups, they face significant challenges when confronting Jewish settlers who commit acts of violence. They claimed that some members of Netanyahu’s government orchestrate much of this chaos, shielding their followers, armed and driven by messianic impulses, from legal repercussions. The letter warned that failure to reverse this trend could have severe security implications not just for Israel but also for its primary ally across the Atlantic. It specifically mentioned that the ongoing unrest could undermine the 20-point plan for Gaza and the Abraham Accords, both of which represent key diplomatic achievements. The signatories stressed that the pattern of violence is clear and that evidence of the situation is readily available. They urged Trump not to be caught off guard again and called for swift and decisive action to prevent further escalation in the West Bank, which risks triggering a broader regional conflict with serious consequences for Israeli security and U.S. interests in the area. The letter comes amid renewed violence in the West Bank following a recent armed incursion by settlers near Nablus, which led to a deadly shooting. In response, Netanyahu’s government authorized new settlement expansions and launched a large-scale military operation involving numerous arrests of Palestinians. With elections scheduled for October, Netanyahu seeks to maintain support from hardline allies such as ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir to secure his position in power. Settlers, feeling emboldened and protected from accountability, continue to attack villages, set fires, destroy crops, and damage olive groves. Trump’s upcoming meeting with Netanyahu will focus on rebuilding efforts in Gaza, the IDF’s withdrawal from Lebanon, and Iran, which remains the central point of contention between Israel’s military-oriented stance and the United States’ preference for diplomacy. The letter serves as a direct warning to Trump that the current trajectory poses a significant threat to stability in the region and could jeopardize critical international agreements. The timing of the letter is particularly sensitive given the heightened tensions in the Middle East. Reports suggest that Trump is approaching the meeting in “vendetta mode,” seeking to assert American influence over Israel’s policies. Meanwhile, Iran appears to be taking the situation more seriously, though no formal agreement has been reached. Both Washington and London are preparing contingency plans to ensure security in the Strait of Hormuz, indicating growing concerns over potential escalations in the region. The letter underscores deep divisions within Israel’s leadership, with retired security figures expressing frustration over the government’s handling of settler violence. Their appeal to Trump highlights the delicate balance between maintaining U.S.-Israel relations and addressing the growing instability in the occupied territories. As the meeting approaches, the outcome of Trump’s discussions with Netanyahu could determine whether the current crisis is contained or allowed to spiral into a larger conflict.