Advocates Urge Western Powers to Sanction IDF Commander Over West Bank Settlement Moves
An Israeli-Palestinian organization has called on key Western nations to sanction Major General Avi Bluth, citing his role in facilitating new settlements and the expansion of housing projects in the West Bank.
By Larissa Bell ·
The Israeli-Palestinian group Combatants for Peace has issued a formal appeal to the foreign ministers of the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. The organization is requesting that these nations place sanctions on Major General Avi Bluth, the head of the IDF Central Command. The group alleges that Bluth played a significant role in assisting the recent establishment of a settlement outpost on the outskirts of Jericho.
In a letter sent on Monday, the organization emphasized that Bluth is responsible for protecting the Palestinian population in the West Bank. However, it accused him of executing what it described as ethnic cleansing against Palestinians in the territory. This is not the first time the group has sought sanctions against the general; earlier this year, they made a similar request citing his failure to prevent violence against civilians by both soldiers and settlers during a surge in attacks.
The letter, delivered by Israeli lawyer and human rights activist Eitay Mack, was addressed to Kaja Kallas, the EU's chief diplomat, as well as Ed Miliband, Penny Wong, and Anita Anand, who serve as foreign affairs ministers in the UK, Australia, and Canada respectively. The group argued that the rapid deterioration of conditions in the West Bank necessitates targeting senior Israeli officials, rather than focusing primarily on far-right organizations and activists.
According to reports from Haaretz, Bluth was notified in advance of a plan by several dozen settlers associated with the Nachala organization to take up residence in eight buildings in a Jericho suburb. The report claims that Bluth not only failed to prevent the move but also met with the settlers beforehand, instructing them to keep the operation secret from top officers until they had moved in. While the IDF stated that this report was false, it did not provide further details.
Separate from the Jericho incident, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced on Monday that a new industrial zone would be established in the Gush Etzion region. Smotrich, who has driven the outgoing government's expansion of settlements, stated that the zone will cover 750 acres of land near the Tarqumiyah Crossing. He noted that Bluth had signed off on the land allocation for the project, which is intended to provide infrastructure for businesses in the settlements.
Smotrich expressed gratitude to Bluth for his assistance, stating that the government would continue to lead a surge in construction and the legalization of previously illegal settlements. He asserted that the land belongs to Israel. Yaron Rosenthal, head of the Gush Etzion Regional Council, added that the industrial zone is expected to generate over 100 million shekels in annual revenue for the municipal authority.
In parallel developments, the government has published tenders for the construction of 818 new housing units in two settlements over the past four days. These include 732 units in the Gvaot settlement and 86 units in Oranit in the central West Bank. Tenders are calls for construction companies to bid on contracts after planning approval has been secured.
The organization Peace Now has criticized these moves, stating that tenders for over 3,700 units have been published since the Knesset was dissolved. The group argued that the outgoing government is attempting to establish facts on the ground without a full mandate. Peace Now urged the incoming government to cancel these tenders, describing the expansion as a dangerous maneuver that deepens annexation and exposes Israel to international sanctions.
Statistics from Peace Now indicate a sharp increase in construction tenders under the current administration. So far in 2026, tenders for approximately 5,225 units have been published, following 9,629 in 2025. This stands in stark contrast to the previous five years, where the average was around 1,600 units per year. The IDF and the Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the specific appeal for sanctions against Bluth.
