Israeli figures are claiming that the momentum created by the war against Iran should be exploited through what they describe as a “strategic step” in the West Bank. This would involve launching additional attacks against Palestinians and imposing new facts on the ground under the pretext of pursuing Palestinian armed groups.
David Ben Tzion, assistant head of the settler council in the West Bank, claimed that “from a broad strategic perspective, Iran is undoubtedly the main threat to Israel’s security, as it has worked for years to build a ring of fire around Israel through its nuclear programme, ballistic missiles, suicide drones, and armed organisations that operate on its behalf. Therefore, focusing on Iran is fully justified because it is a struggle over the future of the Middle East and Israel.”
Settler Officials Call for Expanded Operations in the West Bank
Ben Tzion wrote in an article published by the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth that “within this strategic perspective, we must not forget the ‘broken windows’ closer to us. Despite Israel’s focus for years on confronting Iran, we simultaneously neglected its closest arenas of influence: Hamas in Gaza to the south and Hezbollah in Lebanon to the north.”
He added that Israel “paid the price of this neglect and the mistaken concept of containment on 7 October with heavy bloodshed, reminding us that local organisations can become a strategic threat if they are given the opportunity, time, weapons, and infrastructure.”
Israeli Military Operations Continue Across Palestinian Cities
Ben Tzion argued that “the same principle applies to the West Bank. Someone looking at the situation there might assume that the area is relatively calm, but the reality is far more complex.”
He said that the Israeli army operates in Palestinian cities around the clock, entering villages, arresting Palestinians, confiscating weapons, and foiling attacks. According to him, these actions prevent a large number of armed operations, but they remain largely tactical measures that address specific incidents, individual cells, or local infrastructure.
Calls for a “Radical Change” in Israeli Policy
Ben Tzion stated that “without a radical change in approach, the problem will remain. As long as the Palestinian Authority continues what he described as a dual policy of incitement toward armed operations while simultaneously teaching its citizens to hate Jews and paying salaries to the families of attackers, the phenomenon will not disappear.”
He claimed that the current situation in the West Bank cannot be considered a stable solution and warned that without a fundamental shift in policy, the threat would remain.
According to Ben Tzion, “a rare opportunity has now emerged”.
War Conditions Seen as Opportunity for Wider Crackdown
He argued that Iran is currently under heavy pressure and that the regional order is shifting. At the same time, Israel enjoys clear American support in its war.
“In this reality,” he said, “Israel can, and indeed must, consider uprooting the infrastructure of Palestinian organisations and weapons in the West Bank.”
Ben Tzion described this as a security matter rather than an ideological or political one. He noted that the Israeli army’s Central Command, led by General Avi Bluth, who oversees the West Bank, possesses extensive experience, deep knowledge of the terrain, and proven operational leadership.
He added that this moment presents an opportunity to consider deeper and more comprehensive measures targeting armed infrastructure, weapons depots, and smuggling networks that could lead to future escalation.
Expansion of Violence Beyond Settlements
Ben Tzion concluded that the issue does not only concern the security of settlers in the West Bank. According to him, when armed operations escalate there, the threat does not stop at settlements such as Alon Moreh or Kiryat Arba, but can extend into Israeli cities such as Kfar Saba and Netanya.
It is no secret that Israeli actors are attempting to exploit the ongoing war against Iran to impose further changes on the Palestinian reality. They are taking advantage of unlimited American support and of the world’s distraction from the Palestinian arena as global attention shifts toward conflicts viewed as more dangerous and urgent.
