Dozens of former Israeli political, security, legal and cultural figures have threatened legal action against the government over what they describe as growing “Jewish terrorism” and an “ideology of ethnic cleansing” in the occupied West Bank, according to a leaked letter. Get today's headlines by email Former Officials Issue ‘Final Warning’The document, described as a “final warning,” was sent to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, senior ministers, military commanders and security agencies. A copy was reviewed by the Guardian. Among the signatories are former prime ministers Ehud Olmert and Ehud Barak, former heads of Israel’s security services, senior judges, academics, rabbis and prominent cultural figures. Calls to End Violence Against PalestiniansThe letter urges authorities to take immediate steps to “eradicate Jewish terrorism,” citing years of attacks against Palestinians, including killings, sexual assaults, arson, theft and desecration of bodies. Signatories argued that those responsible have operated with near-total impunity and warned that the violence violates both Israeli and international law. They also said it damages Israel’s security, deepens the country’s international isolation and contributes to rising antisemitism abroad. The group warned that if government leaders and security officials fail to stop the attacks and publicly condemn them, they will petition Israel’s High Court to compel action. Government Accused of Enabling AttacksThe letter directly accuses Netanyahu and members of his far-right coalition of allowing violence against Palestinians to advance a broader agenda of annexation and ethnic cleansing in the West Bank. According to the signatories, the issue is not merely a failure of law enforcement but reflects government policy. The letter alleges that military, police and intelligence agencies have been instructed to tolerate violence by extremist Jewish groups because it aligns with the coalition’s objectives in the territory. It also claims some members of Israel’s military and local defense units have either failed to intervene in attacks or participated in them. The authors drew comparisons between attacks on Palestinians and historic pogroms carried out against Jewish communities in Eastern Europe during the 19th and 20th centuries. Security and Legal ConcernsThe group argued that continued violence risks provoking retaliatory Palestinian attacks or a wider uprising against Israeli rule in the West Bank. The letter was drafted by lawyer Shmuel Berkowitz and is notable for bringing together a broad coalition of former officials while explicitly threatening legal action. Previous public statements by many of the signatories had condemned settler violence, but this intervention goes further by linking abuses to both settlers and security personnel. Signatories include more than 30 former security commanders, former defense and justice ministers, former heads of the Mossad, Shin Bet and police, as well as novelist David Grossman and Nobel Prize-winning chemist David Kornberg. The letter also questioned why authorities had failed to dismantle extremist groups despite, it said, knowing the identities and locations of many of their leaders. Officials Did Not RespondThe signatories criticized recent official condemnations of settler violence as insufficient without concrete action and challenged Netanyahu’s previous assertion that such incidents were carried out by only a small number of individuals. Questions were also directed at National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Defense Minister Israel Katz, military chief Eyal Zamir, Shin Bet head David Zini and Police Commissioner Daniel Levy. The Prime Minister’s Office, the defense and national security ministries, the police and the military were approached for comment on the letter but did not respond. Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 24 June 2026
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