Retired Colonel Warns of Palestinian Attack on Israeli Settlements

Retired Colonel Hezi Nehama has warned of the possibility of hundreds of Palestinians raiding a settlement or farm in the West Bank and carrying out a massacre. In an interview with Channel 7, Nehama, a former brigade commander, stated that while the likelihood of an attack on the scale of October 7 is relatively low, a raid by hundreds of Palestinians on a settlement, farm, or hilltop is a real possibility. He argued that Israel must cancel the Oslo Accords, dismantle the Palestinian Authority (PA), and collect all weapons held by its forces. Nehama also called for action against illegal weapons within Israel's Arab community.

Nehama explained that while the IDF and Shin Bet's intelligence control in the West Bank, along with military and settlement presence, reduce the chance of a mass invasion like the one from Gaza, it does not eliminate the possibility of severe local attacks. He criticized the media's focus on a potential invasion towards central Israel, emphasizing that the lives of settlers in the West Bank are as valuable as those of residents in the center. He believes the PA should be defined as an enemy, and cooperation with it over the past decades has been due to misguided priorities and focus on Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran.

As an alternative, Nehama suggested considering a model proposed by Dr. Moti Keidar, based on local self-rule by clans without armed military forces. He stressed the need to collect all weapons from the PA, stating that the world's reaction should not dictate security policy, citing the failures of the past 30-40 years leading to the October 7 catastrophe. However, he acknowledged that changes should be gradual and coordinated with the United States, considering political constraints and violations by the PA.

Nehama pointed to the IDF's operations in Jenin as an example of what can be achieved, stating that the refugee camp no longer exists in its previous form. He proposed that villages near Jerusalem from which attacks originate should be treated similarly to Jenin, Lebanon, or Gaza, as this is the language they understand. He also noted that while settlements in the West Bank are dispersed, they are defended by armed residents, reservists, and security teams, with farms performing tasks that a company might not be able to handle. Finally, Nehama urged attention to illegal weapons held by Arab citizens of Israel, estimating over a million firearms, and called for a plan to address potential blockades or takeovers by this population.