Ex-Mossad chief says Israeli violence against Palestinians echoes holocaust

WEB DESK: The former head of Mossad, Tamir Pardo, has issued a scathing warning regarding the escalation of Israeli settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, suggesting that the current unrest mirrors the persecution of Jews during the Holocaust.

Speaking during a tour of Palestinian villages recently targeted by raids, Pardo described the situation as an “existential threat” to the state of Israel and expressed a profound sense of personal shame, according to RT News.

Echoes of the Past

Pardo, whose mother was a Holocaust survivor, drew direct parallels between the historic suffering of the Jewish people and the contemporary plight of Palestinians living under the threat of settler attacks.

Following his visit to affected communities, he stated that the scenes of destruction reminded him of the anti-Jewish events of the last century.

The remarks come amid a documented surge in violence. Human rights organisations, including Yesh Din, have reported near-daily incidents involving the torching of homes, the destruction of vehicles, and physical assaults.

The violence reportedly intensified during the military conflict between late February and early April, during which hundreds of Palestinians were injured and at least eight were killed.

Pardo’s intervention highlights a growing rift within the Israeli security establishment regarding the government’s perceived failure to curb extremist elements within the settlement movement.

A threat to national security

Beyond the moral implications, the former intelligence chief warned that the unchecked aggression in the West Bank is “sowing the seeds” for a catastrophic security failure.

He argued that the current environment is creating the exact conditions necessary for a future assault on the scale of the October 7 attacks, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people in southern Israel in 2023.

Pardo cautioned that while the 2023 attacks originated from Gaza, the complexity of the West Bank could lead to an even more severe outcome if the cycle of violence is not halted.

With over 72,000 Palestinians killed in the subsequent military campaign in Gaza, Pardo suggested that the volatility in the West Bank now poses a strategic risk that the Israeli government can no longer afford to ignore for political or religious reasons.