Key facts
- Former Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon compared settler ideology to Nazism.
- Ya'alon accused Israeli authorities of failing to investigate Israelis responsible for killing Palestinian civilians in the West Bank.
- He described the situation in the West Bank as a 'disgrace for generations.'
- Ya'alon stated that over 20 Palestinians have been killed in settler attacks without any arrests.
- He warned that Israel could become an apartheid state if a settlement with Palestinians is not reached.
Israel's former defense minister, Moshe Ya'alon, has drawn a stark parallel between the ideology of Israeli settlers and Nazism, stating that 'Jewish supremacy' is 'Mein Kampf in reverse.' In an interview with Israeli news site Ynet, Ya'alon criticized the government for allegedly encouraging and failing to investigate Israelis responsible for killing Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank. He described the ongoing situation as a 'disgrace for generations,' noting that over 20 Palestinians have been killed in settler attacks without any arrests.
Ya'alon, who served as defense minister from 2013 to 2016, expressed shame over the actions of his own people and warned that Israel could become an apartheid state if a settlement with Palestinians is not reached. He recalled a visit to the southern Hebron area where he spoke with a Palestinian man who lost a leg after settlers shot him and prevented medical assistance. The former army chief also referenced the late Israeli scholar Yeshayahu Leibowitz's warning about the occupation turning Israelis into 'Judeo-Nazis,' stating he could no longer say Leibowitz was wrong.
Settler attacks against Palestinians have reportedly surged since October 2023, with the UN recording an average of four attacks per day. Ya'alon's critical stance aligns with some opposition figures who have described Israeli policies in the West Bank as criminal. He also criticized opposition leaders for not committing to including a Palestinian party in a future governing coalition, stating his shared values with Mansour Abbas, leader of the United Arab List, are greater than those he shares with figures like Smotrich and Ben Gvir.