Former Israeli defense minister Ya’alon says ethnic cleansing is taking place in the West Bank
Former Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon said that violence and the deprivation of Palestinians’ property by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, in his assessment, constitute “ethnic cleansing.” He also stressed that Israel cannot reject international sanctions by accusing other states of antisemitism.
“In light of the decisions by certain countries to impose sanctions on us because of Jewish riots and terrorism in Judea and Samaria and the Jordan Valley, we cannot justify ourselves by accusing these countries of antisemitism,” Ya’alon wrote on the social network X.
Demands for the next government
As Anadolu Agency reports, Ya’alon called on Israel’s next government to take responsibility for the situation in the territory and to stop, in his words, funding and encouraging settlers who forcibly deprive Palestinians of land and property. He claimed that they use severe violence, including killings, seize property, and establish farms and outposts on these sites.
The former minister also called for the appointment of a head of the defense ministry who would allow the Israeli army to act against “Jewish terrorism.” He advocated restoring coordination between the Civil Administration, Israel Police, the Shin Bet internal security service, and the army, as well as reinstating the administrative detention of individuals he called “Jewish terrorists.”
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Ya’alon said that even some leaders of the settler movement acknowledge the threat posed by the violence of “Jewish rioters” to the settlement project, although few speak about it publicly. He also demanded the removal of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, accusing it of endangering Israel and the settlements.
Trade restrictions
Ya’alon’s statement came after France, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, and Canada announced plans to introduce trade restrictions on goods from Israeli settlements. The United Kingdom separately announced a ban on imports of goods from illegal Israeli settlements and additional sanctions against extremist settlers accused of supporting or inciting violence against Palestinians.
UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said that his government agrees with the assessment of “ethnic cleansing of Palestinians” in the occupied West Bank, which, he said, is being carried out by “settler terrorists.” According to Palestinian data, about 750,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in 156 settlements and 360 outposts.
