Israeli official warns: settler attacks push West Bank toward explosion

A senior Israeli security official warned that the West Bank stands on a "powder keg that could explode at any moment" due to settler attacks and the army's inability to deal with them. Haaretz quoted sources in the Central Command speaking of a "paralysis in the levels of command" extending from the commander of the region, Avi Bluth, to brigade commanders, with officers avoiding firm action against settlers for fear of their future. Settler attacks continued in Qusra, where they returned after officers left, closed roads, and stoned houses, while the army avoids confrontation and the police ignore the attacks.

A senior Israeli security official warned that the occupied West Bank stands on a "powder keg that could explode at any moment," amid escalating settler attacks and the occupation army's inability to deal with all incidents, with internal criticism within the military establishment speaking of paralysis in the levels of command. According to a report published by the Hebrew newspaper Haaretz on Wednesday evening, the official said that settler attacks, which are not limited to the town of Qusra, southeast of Nablus, are pushing the occupation army's forces to the limits of their capability, adding that the army "cannot provide a response to all incidents." The newspaper quoted sources in the Central Command of the occupation army, which is responsible for the occupied West Bank, that the problem is not only related to the size of forces, but also includes what they described as "paralysis in the levels of command," for fear of making decisions that could be interpreted politically. The sources explained that this paralysis extends from the commander of the Central Command, Avi Bluth, through division commanders, down to brigade commanders, noting that officers who are candidates for promotion "prefer to avoid firm action against settlers for fear of harming their military future." This comes amid continued settler attacks in the town of Qusra, where forces from the occupation army and the Border Police arrived on Wednesday morning to evacuate an outpost established in the courtyard of a Palestinian family's home. The tour included the commander of the Central Command, Bluth, the commander of the Border Police, and other officials, but security sources described the tour as a "public relations event" aimed at showing a false picture of imposing control. According to the report, the settlers returned to the area immediately after the senior officers left, closed the road, and stoned Palestinian homes, while occupation forces stopped journalists who were on their way to the place. Qusra has been witnessing continuous attacks by settlers for months, along with the establishment of new outposts, some within the vicinity of the town. Haaretz reported that the occupation army avoids confrontation with the settlers, while the Israeli police deliberately ignore their attacks, reflecting the continued state of inability to enforce the law and protect Palestinians from settler crimes.