Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has accused Israel of carrying out what he described as “ethnic cleansing" in Judea and Samaria, while expressing support for sanctions imposed by 12 countries, led by Britain, against individuals involved in settlement activity.
“What is happening in the territories is nothing less than an attempt at ethnic cleansing by a gang of murderous terrorist criminals who operate systematically, almost every day, to harm, plunder, destroy, burn and kill Palestinians who live there," Olmert said in an interview with 103FM.
Olmert accused the military command and government of backing the alleged violence. “This is done by dozens and hundreds of people who receive backing from thousands within the system, and by the civilian envelope that exists there. This is done with active assistance, repeatedly, also by the police and units in the army, inspired by and with the active support of ministers in the government. Of course, Ben Gvir and Smotrich symbolize this brutal policy, perhaps more than anyone else, but others are part of it."
He also criticized the policy of detention and accused security forces of acting discriminatorily. “The defense minister announced that he will not issue administrative detention orders against Jews. Every time there is an act of terror by Jews against Palestinians, the police and military authorities arrive and, by some miracle, arrest only the Palestinians who were the victims of the crimes."
Olmert later addressed the IDF leadership directly, saying that the chief of staff bears responsibility for what takes place on the ground. “The chief of staff is the sovereign on the ground. Under international law, the sovereign on the ground is administered by the army. At some point, the chief of staff, who does not understand, will become the target of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, and not justifiably. I am not blaming him, but I expect him not to hesitate to take any measures available to him as chief of staff in order to prevent these things."