Les officiers de Tsahal disent à Trump: "Les allégations de violence des colons ignorent le terrorisme en Cisjordanie" -exclusivité

Israeli military officers have sharply criticized recent accusations of widespread "settler violence" in the West Bank, sending a detailed letter to U.S. President Donald Trump that challenges the narrative promoted by other former security figures. According to a letter obtained by The Jerusalem Post, representatives of the Defense and Security Forum (DSF), a group comprising thousands of retired Israeli military and intelligence personnel, argue that such claims distort reality and unfairly target the majority of Jewish residents living in the region. The DSF letter was sent in direct response to an earlier communication from the Commanders for Israel’s Security (CIS), an organization composed of hundreds of former high-ranking officials from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Mossad, Shin Bet, Israel Police, and diplomatic corps. That letter had warned Trump that violence by Jewish extremists in the West Bank posed threats to Israel's national security, U.S. interests in the region, and prospects for peace negotiations. Brig.-Gen. (ret.) Erez Winner, chair of the DSF, dismissed these concerns as exaggerated and politically motivated. He accused the CIS of painting an inaccurate picture of the situation, suggesting that the term "settler violence" is being weaponized to cast doubt on the legitimacy of more than half a million Jewish residents in the West Bank, known in Israel as Judea and Samaria. The DSF emphasized that it condemns all forms of violence and lawbreaking, whether committed by Israelis or Palestinians, and supports strict enforcement of the law against perpetrators. The DSF letter further contended that international institutions and Israeli human rights groups often inflate the number of incidents classified as "violence," including routine security measures, religious pilgrimages to the Temple Mount, and recreational activities in contested territories. These, the group claimed, contain no elements of violence. The letter also alleged that more than half of the complaints filed by activist organizations in conflict zones were later found to be fabricated. However, the claim lacks supporting evidence from police records, the United Nations, or other official sources. As an example, the DSF cited a February 2026 fire at a Palestinian-owned sheep pen, which was initially attributed to Israeli settlers. According to the letter, a subsequent police investigation revealed that the blaze resulted from an illegal electrical connection installed by the Palestinian owner. This incident, the DSF argued, contributed to the global perception that such acts were part of a larger pattern of settler aggression. The DSF also accused several prominent Israeli and international human rights organizations, including Yesh Din, B’Tselem, and Breaking the Silence, of promoting the "settler violence" narrative. It claimed these groups receive substantial funding from European governments and the United Nations, and that their efforts aim to undermine the legal standing of Jewish communities in the West Bank, potentially paving the way for their eventual removal through territorial concessions. The dispute reflects a deep ideological rift within Israel’s retired security establishment. The DSF accused the CIS leadership of favoring a strategy of "peace through surrender," emphasizing territorial concessions and withdrawals. This stance aligns with support for the 2015 Iran nuclear deal among certain former security officials, according to the DSF. Separately, Israeli military operations in the West Bank appear to be expanding. Reports indicate that Israel has ordered increased military activity across the region, likely in response to ongoing tensions and perceived threats. Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President JD Vance is set to attend a meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Trump, despite recent public criticisms of Israel from Vance. In a related development, Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that he has ordered the termination of an administrative restraining order against Tal Yinon Dardik, a suspected violent settler linked to an alleged attack in the Palestinian village of Khirbet Humsa. Dardik, who denies involvement, had refused to comply with house arrest and has since been fasting while in custody. Katz also directed the military to intensify operations against "Palestinian terrorism" and prepare for potential incursions into another West Bank refugee camp, similar to those conducted in early 2025. Further tensions emerged as Israeli forces demolished a Palestinian family’s unauthorized home in the northern Jordan Valley, despite a High Court order prohibiting such action pending a formal response from the government. This marks the second such incident at the site this month, raising questions about compliance with judicial rulings.