Ex-Military Chief Warns Iran Recovery Could Ignite West Bank Violence

Former IDF deputy chief and ex-National Security Council head Uzi Dayan said Friday in an interview with Channel 14 that Iran’s economic recovery would pose an immediate threat to Israel. He argued that new money flowing into Tehran would allow Iran to arm and supply terror cells in Judea and Samaria with weapons and explosives, after already establishing major forward bases in Lebanon and Gaza.

Dayan said the West Bank remains a highly volatile arena even under Israeli security control, and warned that the situation could change within minutes. He said Iran is not only financing activity there, but also smuggling advanced weapons intended to alter the balance of deterrence. He urged the army and the Shin Bet to stay on maximum alert.

He also attacked Qatar, calling on Israel to treat it as an enemy state. In his view, Qatar is not a fair mediator but a political actor driven by narrow economic interests and by its influence in Washington. He said Israel should not allow it to become an official supervisory body in the region, adding, “In a utilitarian and materialistic world, we must not let this country become a formal oversight body in our area. Whoever has the money should not have the say.”

On coordination with the United States, Dayan said Admiral Brad Cooper’s visit to Israel has major operational significance. He said U.S. cooperation is vital for building a regional defense shield against Iranian ballistic missiles and hostile aircraft, including systems deployed beyond Israel’s borders. He added that American help matters both for defense and for planning offensive moves, and said Israel must prepare for direct confrontation and even a strike on Iranian soil if escalation demands it.