Top Israeli officials and public figures have threatened the government with legal action over its support for what they call 'Jewish terrorism' and an 'ideology of ethnic cleansing,' according to a leaked letter reported by The Guardian on Wednesday.
Leaked Letter Delivers Final Warning
The letter, signed by two former prime ministers, former security chiefs and judges, a Nobel laureate, and Israel's most famous living novelist, was described as a 'final warning' to the government. It demands immediate action to eradicate Jewish terrorism in the occupied West Bank, citing years of murder, rape, theft, arson, and desecration of the dead.
The signatories warned that Jewish violence against Palestinians is putting Israel's security at risk and isolating the country internationally. They also noted that antisemitism is rising worldwide as a result of government actions. The letter has not been made public but was sent to the prime minister's office, defense and national security ministries, the military, police, and intelligence services.
Accusations of Government Policy
The letter states: 'This is not solely a military and police failure, but the implementation of an overt policy by the Israeli government and its prime minister in general, and by the relevant ministers in particular. They order the military, the police, and Shin Bet to enable the terrorism of Jewish criminals, because this horrendous phenomenon serves well the current government's ideology of carrying out ethnic cleansing in the territories of Judea and Samaria to facilitate their future annexation.'
The signatories drew historical parallels, saying: 'The crimes of Jewish terrorism in the territories are reminiscent of similar crimes and pogroms committed against our people by other nations in eastern Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries.'
Staggering Casualty Figures
According to UN data, Israeli soldiers and settlers have killed at least 1,100 Palestinian civilians in the West Bank since 2020. At least a quarter of the dead were children. The letter warned that the killing of Palestinians endangers Israeli security by risking inciting Palestinian revenge attacks or an uprising.
Prominent Signatories
The letter was signed by former prime ministers Ehud Olmert and Ehud Barak, along with four former ministers and more than 30 former security commanders. Other signatories include novelist David Grossman, Nobel chemistry laureate David Kornberg, an Oscar winner, and 10 Israel Prize winners. A former attorney general, judges, senior legal advisers to the government, and prominent academic figures also signed.
Despite the sense of crisis among the signatories, the broader public debate in Israel has yet to reflect these concerns. Unofficial campaigning is beginning for elections set for the end of October.
