Israeli President Warns PM of Civil War Risk from West Bank Violence

President Isaac Herzog sent an unusual warning letter on October 8th to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz, and National Security Advisor Shmuel Ben Ezra, alerting them to a dangerous escalation of nationalist crime in Judea and Samaria. The letter, obtained by Walla and circulated to senior IDF officials, the Attorney General, and the Foreign Minister, cautioned that continued violence could lead to a deadly clash between security forces and Israeli civilians, and even civil war.

Hersog's concerns stem from a recent visit to Judea and Samaria and discussions with IDF commanders, police, and Shin Bet officials. He described a severe situation marked by increased violence from Jewish rioter groups, coupled with a shortage of personnel and enforcement tools to combat the phenomenon. He urged the government to develop a coordinated emergency plan and dismantle the criminal groups.

One of the most serious warnings in the letter detailed an incident in late September in the Palestinian village of Jalud, where Israeli rioters clashed with security forces. Herzog wrote that the event was "a hair's breadth away from the use of live fire by IDF forces against Israeli civilians, or the accidental killing of a Border Police officer." He emphasized that such a possibility carries an explosive outcome that could lead to civil war.

The President highlighted that the nationalist violence in the West Bank is ongoing and intensifying, citing acts such as arson, tree uprooting, stone-throwing, and livestock theft. He noted that security personnel are professional but face limited resources and manpower to address the scale of the problem. Herzog also warned that upcoming elections in Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and the US, along with the olive harvest season, create a particularly volatile and dangerous confluence of factors.

Hersog urged the government to immediately formulate a comprehensive plan to eradicate the phenomenon. His proposed measures include reinforcing security forces, conducting widespread arrests, investigations, and dismantling criminal groups. He also called for the use of administrative detention, a special enforcement tool allowing detention without indictment, subject to legal provisions and judicial review. The President stressed that the responsibility for preventing escalation lies with the political echelon and all state authorities, stating, "We must not delay it for irrelevant reasons; the sooner the better."