Peloni: This is an important article in which Jonathan Tobin addresses a letter sent to President Donald Trump by 550 retired Israeli military and intelligence officers from Commanders for Israel’s Security (CIS), which is a political document rather than an objective security assessment. Tobin clarifies that the well reported epidemic of “settler violence” is exaggerated towards the purpose of applying pressure to the Israeli government, weaken Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of elections, and revive support for policies associated with the Oslo era and a two-state solution, ie, the creation of a second Palestinian state.
Tobin notes that the campaign has gained traction among many American Jews and commentators despite overlooking the Palestinian Authority’s continued financial support for terrorism and the broader context of persistent Arab attacks against Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. He further explains that many incidents categorized as “settler violence” include actually lawful activities, acts of self-defense, or counterterrorism operations, while genuine criminal acts by a small minority face prosecution under Israeli laws.
Tobin notes that the “Settler Violence” canard is being manipulated to delegitimize Jewish communities beyond the Green Line, encourage U.S. pressure on Israel, and undermine Netanyahu’s coalition. In closing, Tobin concludes that retired military officials are far from politically neutral, and warns against accepting their accusations without critical analysis. He also argues that reviving the “land for peace” policies would result in simultaneously reviving the repeat mistakes that contributed to past violence, which we need only look back to what came in the aftermath of Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza.
When Israelis ask Washington to take action against Jews in Judea and Samaria, followed by Bret Stephens and the WSJ, they are ignoring the context of Arab terrorism and attempting an end run around democracy for political reasons
Jonathan S. Tobin | Published:
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/431108
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