Israeli ex-generals urge Trump to push Netanyahu on ‘settler terror’
Nearly 600 retired Israeli military, diplomatic, and intelligence officials have written to US President Donald Trump urging him to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to curb settler violence in the occupied West Bank. The group, Commanders for Israel's Security, warns that escalating violence poses severe risks to Israeli and US regional interests.
A coalition of former Israeli officials has appealed directly to US President Donald Trump to intervene on the issue of settler violence in the occupied West Bank. The group, known as Commanders for Israel's Security, comprises more than 550 retired Israeli army colonels and generals alongside equivalent-ranking officials from intelligence agencies, police, and the foreign service.
In their letter, the officials expressed concern that unchecked violence in the West Bank threatens regional stability and Israeli security. They argued that Trump holds unique influence to address what they characterize as a critical security challenge, stating that the escalating pattern of settler activity could produce consequences exceeding those of the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.
The letter also contained criticism of Israeli government members, suggesting that certain officials have protected settlers and Israeli forces from legal accountability. The appeal came following weekend violence in the West Bank town of Tal, where a shootout resulted in two Israeli and four Palestinian deaths.
The timing of the letter coincided with Netanyahu's scheduled meeting with Trump in Washington, marking the prime minister's seventh visit to the White House during Trump's current term. The officials framed their intervention as a professional assessment grounded in security expertise rather than political positioning.
Bell tracks these organizations in depth — profiles, people, signals, and history. See them inside Bell →
Bell watches registries and rules change in near-real-time.