Expert Warns of 'War' in West Bank, Citing Unchanged Israeli Policies

An Israeli security analyst warns that Israel is effectively in a state of war in the West Bank, a reality it has yet to fully grasp or address. Zvi Yehezkeli argues that the current approach, relying on pre-October 7th strategies and a desire to maintain 'life's fabric' for Palestinians, is insufficient to deter terrorism.

Yehezkeli asserts that the problem is not with small outposts or farms, but with a fundamental flaw in the security concept. He points to the Palestinian Authority's educational materials and mosque sermons as indicators of a deep-seated animosity that fuels potential terrorists. The Israeli military, he claims, lacks the capacity to deter, demolish homes, expel terrorists, or confiscate land effectively under the current paradigm.

He criticizes the continued use of checkpoints like the one at Beitunia, which he links to a High Court ruling allowing Palestinians to use Route 443, facilitating their movement and access to areas from which attacks originate. Yehezkeli believes that while military operations in places like Tulkarm and Jenin can occur, they do not eradicate the root causes of terror, which he locates within the Palestinian Authority's educational system and its perception of Israel as an enemy.

Despite severe incidents, including the murder of a father of six on the eve of Yom Kippur and an attack injuring the son of Ambassador Jack Lew, Yehezkeli contends that the Israeli perception and policy in the West Bank have not changed. He questions how many more attacks are needed before this shift occurs, advocating for defining the Palestinian Authority as an enemy, confiscating land, and completely demolishing terrorists' homes, not just partially.

Yehezkeli concludes with a stark warning: failing to change this perception and approach could lead to a repeat of the October 7th atrocities in the West Bank, suggesting it is only a matter of time.