Ex-Mossad chief: Settler violence an existential threat, curbing it could spark civil war

Key Points:

• Former Mossad head Tamir Pardo described ongoing settler attacks on Palestinians in the West Bank as an “existential threat” to Israel, warning that government inaction could lead to a civil war.
• Pardo compared the violence to historic atrocities against Jews and predicted a potential October 7-style attack originating from the West Bank, referencing the deadly 2023 Hamas-led assault on southern Israel.
• He highlighted the complexity of cracking down on extremist settlers, many of whom are armed and politically connected to far-right ministers, cautioning that such actions could destabilize the country.
• Human rights groups report hundreds of settler violence incidents since February, including shootings and property damage, while critics accuse Israeli authorities and the military of ignoring or enabling the attacks.
• Israel Police stated they have arrested dozens of suspects and filed indictments related to settler violence, but critics argue that arrests and convictions remain rare, fueling perceptions of government tolerance or encouragement of the violence.