In an oped published by Israeli media, former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert wrote that Tel Aviv needed to crack down on Jewish terrorism against Palestinians in the West Bank. 

“The fight against Jewish terrorism in the West Bank must advance to the next stage and be waged with greater determination,” the former Israeli leader said in an article that was published by Haaretz on Thursday. “The daily terrorism that is managed, directed, encouraged and supported by the Israeli government can no longer be tolerated.”

Since the current Israeli government was formed in December of 2022, Tel Aviv has accelerated the process of annexing the West Bank and granting impunity to Israeli settlers who conduct regular attacks on Palestinians. 

“At the forefront of this campaign are the prime minister, Defense Minister Israel Katz and the rest of the cabinet, of course,” Olmert explained. “The drive behind these acts is reflected in the statements and actions of senior ministers who seek the full annexation of the West Bank without their Palestinian inhabitants remaining there.”

Under Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s guidance, Tel Aviv has approved a record number of settlements in the West Bank. Additionally, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has encouraged extremist Israelis by labeling all Palestinians as terrorists. 

Olmert argues that Israel’s actions in the West Bank amount to war crimes and ethnic cleansing. “I do not hesitate to assign direct and immediate responsibility to the government for war crimes and ethnic cleansing directed against hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who have no involvement in terrorism, directly or indirectly,” he wrote.