Jewish Diaspora Leaders Call on Israeli President to Address West Bank Settler Violence
Prominent members of the global Jewish diaspora, including former UK Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind, have issued a powerful appeal to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, demanding immediate action to stop violent attacks by Jewish extremists against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. This urgent call comes in response to a disturbing surge in killings and arson attacks targeting Palestinian civilians during March, which has sparked international concern and condemnation.
Open Letter Garners Widespread Support from Global Jewish Community
An open letter facilitated by the London Initiative, a liberal Zionist network comprising 360 influential Jewish, Israeli, and Israeli Palestinian figures, has attracted more than 3,000 signatories from across the world. The signatories include distinguished diplomats, philanthropists, rabbis, and academics from Australia, Canada, Europe, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States, reflecting a broad consensus within the diaspora.
The letter explicitly states: "Israel's security forces are clearly better able to protect Palestinian civilians in the West Bank, living under different levels of Israeli military and civil control, from Jewish terror. That they do not act decisively suggests a lack of directives from the government." This criticism highlights a perceived failure in governance and law enforcement that has allowed violence to escalate unchecked.
Key Signatories and Their Concerns
Notable UK signatories to the letter include Matthew Gould, the former UK Ambassador to Israel; Lord Michael Levy, former Middle East envoy and close ally of ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair; Sir Malcolm Rifkind, a cabinet minister under Margaret Thatcher and John Major; Tory peer and Times columnist Daniel Finkelstein; philanthropist Dame Vivien Duffield; and Sir Mick Davis, a former Conservative party treasurer who co-founded the London Initiative.
Internationally, the letter has been endorsed by billionaire Canadian philanthropist Charles Bronfman; Israeli diplomat Ilan Sztulman Starosta; Michael M Adler, a former US ambassador to Belgium; and former Canadian ambassador to Israel Jon Allen. This diverse coalition underscores the depth of concern within Jewish communities worldwide regarding the impact of settler violence.
President Herzog's Response and Ongoing Tensions
In response to the letter, President Herzog's office posted a statement on X, acknowledging what he termed the "recent surge of violence by extremist elements in Judea and Samaria" and "grave offences against innocent people." He affirmed: "I share your conviction that these acts of violence stand in stark contradiction to the values upon which Israel was founded and to the enduring ethical tradition of the Jewish people."
Herzog further stated that he had demanded authorities "employ all available means to bring those responsible to justice and put an immediate end to this unacceptable phenomenon." He emphasized that such violence not only constitutes "shameful crimes against innocents" but also interferes with efforts to address Palestinian terror threats, potentially weakening Israel's position globally and fueling antisemitism.
Historical Context and Escalating Crisis
This latest appeal follows a previous letter sent to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in August 2025, which was also facilitated by the London Initiative and signed by 6,300 Jews worldwide. That letter called for the restoration of humanitarian aid to Gaza, an end to the war, and enforcement of law in the West Bank, while condemning government rhetoric as inciting racism and hatred.
The current letter asserts that since then, the situation regarding "attacks by settlers and their supporters" has "only deteriorated, reaching a new nadir during the war with Iran." This deterioration highlights a persistent and worsening crisis that threatens not only regional stability but also the moral standing of Israel and its relationship with the global Jewish community.
The signatories argue that settler violence is "not only morally shameful but a strategic threat to the future of Israel," damaging world Jewry and jeopardizing future generations' connections to the state. They warn that such actions, if unchecked, could undermine Israel's security and international support at a critical juncture.
