Retired General Advocates Free Land for West Bank Settlements
Retired Brigadier General Harel Knafo, a former commander of the Inter-Service Command and Staff College and head of the Southern Command staff, argues that expanding Israeli settlements in the West Bank is crucial for national security. In an interview with Channel 7, Knafo stated that settlements have historically served to bolster security in various regions of Israel, a principle he believes applies to the West Bank today.
Knafo asserted that settlements are synonymous with security, citing examples from the country's founding when establishing communities around central areas enhanced safety. He explained that settlements in the Gaza periphery were most secure when communities existed within Gaza itself, preventing incursions. Similarly, he noted that when Jordan controlled East Jerusalem, snipers fired into the city, but this ceased once Jordan's presence was limited to east of the Jordan River.
Addressing the idea of introducing the Jordanian army into the West Bank, Knafo dismissed it as unworkable, stating that only the Israel Defense Forces can protect Jews in their land. He advocates for Israeli control over the entire territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, with non-Jewish residents subject to Israeli authority or relocating elsewhere.
Knafo warned that a Palestinian state established within Israel would be the "beginning of the end" for the country, drawing parallels to the October 7th attacks and the transformation of areas given to Arabs into "Hamas-stan." He believes such a state would quickly become a "Hamas state in the heart of Israel," rendering air travel from Ben Gurion Airport impossible and making major highways unsafe.
He proposed that the state offer free land to citizens for building homes in the West Bank to increase Jewish presence and prevent Palestinian statehood. Knafo also suggested adopting an American approach where citizens are armed to defend their property against intruders, believing this would ultimately lead to international understanding of Israel's seriousness about its settlements. He expressed hope for a continued right-wing government to advance settlement momentum, suggesting that international sanctions would ultimately fail, as they have in the past.
