Israeli army chief says West Bank troops ‘killing like we haven’t killed since 1967’
Leaked remarks by Maj Gen Avi Bluth describe fatal shootings of stone-throwers and different treatment for Jewish settlers
TL;DR
- Maj Gen Avi Bluth stated Israeli troops in the West Bank are "killing like we haven’t killed since 1967."
- He admitted to fatally shooting 42 Palestinian stone-throwers last year, calling such acts terrorism.
- Bluth acknowledged discriminatory practices, stating Jewish settlers are not treated the same for similar stone-throwing incidents.
- He permitted soldiers to shoot Palestinians attempting to cross the separation barrier in the knee or below as a deterrent, leading to many "limping monuments."
- Bluth described his actions as part of a "survival of the fittest" struggle and a response to potential terrorism.
- Haaretz criticized Bluth's remarks and the IDF's alleged collaboration with settlers carrying out violence against Palestinians.
- Bluth had previously warned that "Jewish terror" by extremists could trigger a Palestinian uprising.