Retired Israeli Security Officials Urge Trump to Curb Settler Violence

Approximately 600 retired security officials, organized as Commanders for Israel’s Security, sent a letter to President Donald Trump on Monday requesting that he pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end settler violence in the occupied West Bank. The appeal, signed by former Deputy Chief of Staff Matan Vilnai, was timed to precede a Tuesday meeting between Trump and Netanyahu at the White House. The officials warned that escalating violence could ignite a regional crisis and claimed that members of the Israeli government are granting settlers immunity from the law, hindering security agencies.

Simultaneously, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern over plans by Israeli authorities to accelerate the legalization of farm outposts and establish new ones in the West Bank. UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq described these settlements as a flagrant violation of international law and a major obstacle to a two-state solution.

These diplomatic warnings follow a surge in violence in the territory. Since the previous Thursday, reports indicate the deaths of eight Palestinians and two Israelis, alongside the vandalism of mosques, homes, and agricultural lands. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has documented over 1,330 incidents involving Israeli occupiers resulting in casualties or property damage since the beginning of 2026.