Retired Brigadier General Warns October Conflict Could Be Worse Amid Rising West Bank Terrorism
Retired Brigadier General Erez Weiner, chairman of the "Security Activists" movement, analyzed the escalating wave of terrorism in the West Bank and outlined the challenges Israel faces in countering it. Speaking to Channel 7, Weiner emphasized that the current surge in violence is not a new phenomenon but a prolonged process ongoing for months, involving attacks such as farm arson, livestock poisoning, and assaults on shepherds. He criticized Israel's delayed response and failure to address the root causes.
Weiner highlighted a significant shift in the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) approach following the October conflict, noting an initial strong military response that reduced violence and friction. However, he warned that this improvement led to complacency, while incitement from the Palestinian Authority (PA) continued unabated through education, media, and public discourse. He also pointed to the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank as a factor intensifying Palestinian incitement and violence, compounded by campaigns accusing settlers of violence, supported by Israeli NGOs, international organizations, and UN bodies.
Calling for a return to a more aggressive policy, Weiner advocated for not only military raids and arrests but also civilian measures to counteract terrorism. He stressed that since Palestinians view control of land as central, Israel's response must reflect that reality. Weiner dismissed the PA as a partner, labeling it an armed, inciting, and terror-supporting entity, and urged ending the perception of the PA as a security asset. He cited involvement of dozens of PA police officers in terror activities over the past two years.
Weiner warned against ignoring intelligence warnings as happened before the October conflict, urging vigilance against the PA's threat. Addressing manpower concerns, he argued that the issue lies in the deployment strategy rather than numbers, recommending focused, offensive operations in defined areas with cooperation from local settlers. He proposed starting with targeted operations, such as weapons collection in specific towns.
Concluding with a stark warning, Weiner stated that Israel's true threat extends beyond Gaza, Lebanon, or Iran to include hundreds of thousands of smuggled weapons, criminal organizations, and the PA. Without timely action, he cautioned, the October conflict may be only a prelude to worse violence ahead.
