Former Israeli Security Officials Accuse Government of Ethnic Cleansing

A coalition of former Israeli prime ministers, intelligence officials, and generals is accusing the government of Benjamin Netanyahu of supporting a policy of ethnic cleansing in the West Bank. These retired security officials, including former hawks, have conducted tours of the region to document the displacement of Palestinian communities and the looting of schools.

In a June letter signed by more than 200 prominent Israelis, the group condemned Jewish terrorism and alleged that the Israel Defense Forces, police, and Shin Bet are knowingly complicit in driving Palestinians out of the territory. Retired Major General Eyal Ben-Reuven stated that this unchecked lawlessness poses a greater threat to Israel's existence as a democracy than external enemies such as Iran, Gaza, or Lebanon.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has characterized some settler attacks as criminal acts, and the Israel Defense Forces denies supporting violent groups. However, former army chief of staff and defense minister Moshe Ya'alon likened the ideology of extremist settlers to that of World War II Germany. The group continues to highlight the erasure of Palestinian communities, particularly in the Jordan Valley, where Bedouin encampments have been displaced.