Israel Has Its Pretext For Total War On West Bank
Authored by Joe Lauria via Consortium News
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened a major military offensive against the West Bank four days before he stands for re-election after two Israeli soldiers were killed on Friday in Hebron.
Consortium News on Thursday predicted that Palestinians killing an Israeli on the West Bank could trigger an all-out war against the Palestinian Authority.
Netanyahu announcement outside Hebron, screengrab via Israeli media
It is still unclear what led to the Israeli soldiers being killed after a clash with what early reports call Palestinian "gunmen." The men, identified by the Israelis as Firas and Hamouda al-Jaaba, did not appear to be members of the PA security forces.
Netanyahu rushed to Hebron, where in military gear, he announced that the entire city would be shut down as the IDF carried out house-to-house operations. He vowed a major military operation in the West Bank, “of a scale not seen since the Six-Day War,” when Israel began its occupation of the territory in 1967.
“The IDF is ready to carry it out. We will determine the timing, but it is coming,” he said.
Before it was known that the Israeli soldiers had been killed, he issued this statement:
Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s extreme right finance minister, also in Hebron, called for a major war against the occupied West Bank similar to Gaza.
“There is no alternative to a comprehensive military operation in Judea and Samaria that will lead to the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority, the confiscation of weapons and the elimination of terrorists. Just as in Gaza and Lebanon,” said Smotrich, who added he would push for the operation to be approved and implemented.
Consortium News reported Thursday:
The article said that both Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Palestinians killing an Israeli soldier or settler on the West bank would trigger a major offensive.
Katz said that the IDF was waiting for PA security personnel and associated groups to “turn their guns” against Israeli settlers and IDF troops in the West Bank.
He said:
Katz added:
During a visit to a West Bank security barrier on Oct.13, Netanyahu also warned of all out war against Ramallah. “Our enemies are thinking of testing us in these days leading up to the elections. I warn them that we are prepared for every scenario, including what is known as ‘turning the guns around,’” he said.
Netanyahu said the IDF had given him and Katz “a powerful, robust plan. … In such a scenario, I wouldn’t advise our enemies to test us. You will encounter a level of force here that you never imagined.”
CN speculated that Israel could provoke such a killing just days before the election in order to give Netanyahu the casus belli.
Polls indicate his party will not win a majority to form a new government, it could come in second place and that he might not be asked to form a new government. Netanyahu face possible jail time on corruption charges if he is no longer the prime minister.
Tyler Durden Sun, 10/25/2026 - 23:59
Continue reading...
[ H/T ZeroHedge ]
Authored by Joe Lauria via Consortium News
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened a major military offensive against the West Bank four days before he stands for re-election after two Israeli soldiers were killed on Friday in Hebron.
Consortium News on Thursday predicted that Palestinians killing an Israeli on the West Bank could trigger an all-out war against the Palestinian Authority.
Netanyahu announcement outside Hebron, screengrab via Israeli media
It is still unclear what led to the Israeli soldiers being killed after a clash with what early reports call Palestinian "gunmen." The men, identified by the Israelis as Firas and Hamouda al-Jaaba, did not appear to be members of the PA security forces.
Netanyahu rushed to Hebron, where in military gear, he announced that the entire city would be shut down as the IDF carried out house-to-house operations. He vowed a major military operation in the West Bank, “of a scale not seen since the Six-Day War,” when Israel began its occupation of the territory in 1967.
“The IDF is ready to carry it out. We will determine the timing, but it is coming,” he said.
Before it was known that the Israeli soldiers had been killed, he issued this statement:
Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s extreme right finance minister, also in Hebron, called for a major war against the occupied West Bank similar to Gaza.
“There is no alternative to a comprehensive military operation in Judea and Samaria that will lead to the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority, the confiscation of weapons and the elimination of terrorists. Just as in Gaza and Lebanon,” said Smotrich, who added he would push for the operation to be approved and implemented.
Consortium News reported Thursday:
The article said that both Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Palestinians killing an Israeli soldier or settler on the West bank would trigger a major offensive.
Katz said that the IDF was waiting for PA security personnel and associated groups to “turn their guns” against Israeli settlers and IDF troops in the West Bank.
He said:
Katz added:
During a visit to a West Bank security barrier on Oct.13, Netanyahu also warned of all out war against Ramallah. “Our enemies are thinking of testing us in these days leading up to the elections. I warn them that we are prepared for every scenario, including what is known as ‘turning the guns around,’” he said.
Netanyahu said the IDF had given him and Katz “a powerful, robust plan. … In such a scenario, I wouldn’t advise our enemies to test us. You will encounter a level of force here that you never imagined.”
CN speculated that Israel could provoke such a killing just days before the election in order to give Netanyahu the casus belli.
Polls indicate his party will not win a majority to form a new government, it could come in second place and that he might not be asked to form a new government. Netanyahu face possible jail time on corruption charges if he is no longer the prime minister.
Tyler Durden Sun, 10/25/2026 - 23:59
Continue reading...
[ H/T ZeroHedge ]
