Israeli President Warns of Civil War Over Settler Violence

Herzog's warning followed a September 30 visit to the IDF Judea and Samaria Division headquarters, where he met with commanders and security officials from the IDF, police, border police, and Shin Bet. He was briefed on systematic criminal activities, including home burnings, tree destruction, stone-throwing, and livestock theft. The President highlighted a specific incident in late September in the Palestinian village of Jalud, where Jewish rioters clashed with security forces, bringing soldiers a hair's breadth away from using live fire against Israeli civilians and nearly resulting in the death of a border police officer.

Characterizing the perpetrators as organized criminal groups rather than isolated actors, Herzog noted that security forces are facing manpower and operational shortages that hinder their response. He urged the government to implement an immediate inter-agency emergency plan to dismantle these groups. This plan, he wrote, must include increased security forces, a broad arrest campaign, and the reinstatement of administrative detentions for Jewish suspects to prevent a wider internal conflict.