Two Israeli commentators offered sharply opposing views on a letter from about 600 former senior security and foreign service officials to US President Donald Trump, sent ahead of his meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Yotam Zemer (C14) defended Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria, saying 'there is no more tolerant population than the settlers, because they live near predators, and still they maintain their humanity.' Itamar Fleishman (C14) called the letter writers 'completely insane' and said he is 'not willing for these people to have any effect on determining Israeli policy.' The letter warns of what it terms 'settler terror' and urges Trump to address the situation in Judea and Samaria.
The debate over the letter from approximately 600 former Israeli security and foreign service officials to President Donald Trump intensified Monday evening as two commentators offered starkly opposing assessments on C14.
Yotam Zemer defended the Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria, arguing that their tolerance is tested daily. 'There is no more tolerant population than the settlers, because they live near predators, and still they maintain their humanity,' Zemer said.
Itamar Fleishman took the opposite view, dismissing the letter's signatories as unfit to influence policy. 'I am not willing for these people to have any effect on determining Israeli policy because they are completely insane. Whoever writes such a thing is insane,' Fleishman said.
The letter, first reported earlier Monday by Nir Dvori (N12), warns that what it terms 'settler terror' and the weakening of the Palestinian Authority could lead to escalation and harm Israel's security and the Abraham Accords. As The Zioneer reported earlier, commentator Idotauber had previously slammed the letter as 'defamation of the State of Israel.' The exchange reflects a deepening internal Israeli debate over the characterization of incidents in Judea and Samaria ahead of the Netanyahu-Trump meeting.
3 developments
- DevelopingCommentator Idotauber slams letter to Trump from former security officials, calls it 'defamation of Israel'
- DevelopingFormer Shin Bet official, Tal Meir attack ex-officials' letter to Trump comparing 'settler terror' to Oct 7
- DevelopingMK Limor Son Har Melech demands IDF change Judea and Samaria settler policy
- DevelopingCommentator Ben Chanan: 'Settler accusations' mask real picture in Judea and Samaria
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