IDF Central Command Chief Faces Dismissal Calls Over Outpost

Following criticism from right-wing politicians, an opposition figure has now joined calls for the removal of a senior IDF officer. Nimrod Shafer, a candidate for The Democrats party, on Wednesday demanded the dismissal of Major General Avi Bluth, head of the Israel Defense Forces' Central Command, over recent events at Kusra village in Samaria. The controversy centers on an outpost established in recent days that led to confrontations during its evacuation, with Shafer alleging that IDF forces accompanied settlers who entered the Palestinian village.

Shafer drew a comparison to a recent incident involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's wife. "When hundreds of protesters 'besieged' Sara Netanyahu for three hours at a hair salon, it was called 'anarchy' and a 'police coup,' and hundreds of officers were mobilized to rescue her," he stated. "When settlers besiege a Palestinian family for months, cut off their electricity and block their door, in order to expel them from their home, the IDF escorts them and the Israel Police doesn't respond."

He concluded: "Central Command chief Avi Bluth should be removed from his position for failing to fulfill his mission, and the sooner the better."

The IDF began evacuating tents erected by settlers near Kusra village in the West Bank on Wednesday, following the expansion of the Tel Talpiot outpost beyond its original boundaries. Security forces have dismantled the outpost multiple times over the past two years, but settlers have returned and re-established it after each removal. In recent days, forces conducted several evacuations in the area, with current operations focused on additional tents placed close to village homes.

According to reports, settlers not only returned to the outpost's original location in recent days but expanded their presence by setting up several tents just meters from Palestinian residences. Palestinian residents of Kusra claimed the tent placement effectively created a siege around three families. Meanwhile, footage circulated on social media in recent days showing several soldiers from the territorial defense system arriving at the outpost site and praying together with settlers in one of the tents.

The IDF stated that the incident is under investigation following publication of the footage, and later said that "commanders treated with severity the actions carried out by Israeli civilians toward the Palestinian family, and instructed several follow-up measures. Additionally, disciplinary action was decided upon regarding the involved force that was documented at the location several days ago."