IDF Chief Warns West Bank on Brink of Violence Amid Rising Nationalist Crime

In a surprise meeting at the IDF Central Command attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir and Central Command Chief Major General Avi Blot warned that the West Bank is on the verge of explosion due to escalating nationalist crime. General Blot described the situation as a "match that could ignite everything at any moment," emphasizing that this issue is diverting military focus from combating Palestinian terrorism, which security officials say is significantly declining.

When Netanyahu pressed for the army's contingency plan in case of an outbreak of violence, Zamir responded that they had not prepared to present such a plan at the meeting, according to Ynet. The warning follows a recent wave of evacuations of dozens of illegal outposts after a terror attack in the village of Tal, which triggered incitement by extremist groups against senior commanders, including General Blot and West Bank Division Commander Brigadier General Kobi Heller, who have been targeted as architects of the policy.

Senior command is also concerned about the significant attention nationalist crime is receiving in the United States, generating American pressure that has slowed the pace of establishing agricultural farms in the area. The tension was evident last Friday near Hebron, where a confrontation between Israelis and Palestinians occurred at the edge of the village of Harbat Harmush. A security officer from one of the outposts fired warning shots and then shots toward Palestinians, resulting in the death of a 17-year-old Palestinian boy. Police supported the shooting, citing a perceived threat.

Meanwhile, settlement sources note that despite the slowdown in farm construction, the IDF continues to carry out all political settlement missions without delay.