An armed minority ties the IDF's hands and usurps the state's decision-making | Shai Gal

Shai Gal argues that an armed minority of settlers is tying the IDF's hands and usurping the state's decision-making through provocations in the territories. He compares the situation to Lebanon, where a civilian initiative led to the death of Sergeant Gur Kehati. Gal calls for a decision between two states or permanent Israeli rule without political equality.

In his article, Shai Gal argues that an armed minority of settlers is tying the IDF's hands and usurping the state's decision-making through provocations in the territories. He compares the situation to an incident in Lebanon, where a civilian initiative by Ze'ev Erlich led to the death of Sergeant Gur Kehati. Gal states that whoever knowingly enters a hostile space and forces the IDF to rescue them usurps sovereignty. He distinguishes between the majority of law-abiding settlers and the rioters, who harm the security of settlements and invite revenge attacks. Gal notes that 21 years after the disengagement, the lesson has been rewritten: the Qassams preceded the disengagement but the fire is attributed to it, and the IDF protected the settlers in the Strip but they are portrayed as protectors of the Gaza envelope. He argues that Israel has not canceled Oslo, and the Palestinian Authority continues to manage the civil lives of millions of Palestinians. Gal presents two alternatives: one state with equal citizenship or permanent Israeli rule without political equality, and states that the violent minority seeks to usurp this decision. He warns politicians who shelter the rioters, even through silence, that they are handing over state authority to them.