IDF admits West Bank commander met settler official, denies secret coordination of Jericho outpost

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IDF sources on Saturday night admitted to The Jerusalem Post that IDF Central Command Chief Maj.-Gen. Avi Bluth met with the regional defense officer, Lt.- Col. Elitzur Trabelsi, before the recent move of settlers to a new outpost near Jericho, but denied that they discussed the move or took any action behind the back of Bluth's designated officers.A Haaretz report on Friday night said that Bluth had “several conversations... in the days leading up to the entry between representatives of the Binyamin Regional Council in the West Bank, the pro-settlement Nachala movement and Trabelsi, who was involved in coordinating the move.”

The report also said Bluth ordered his usual subordinates, who would handle the issue, to be left out of the loop to facilitate some of the settlers' plans.In contrast, IDF sources told the Post that Bluth has a myriad of meetings with West Bank settler officials on a constant basis about numerous routine issues, and that his meetings with Trabelsi were related to such standard issues, not the controversial plot alleged in the Haaretz report.IDF sources said they were asked a series of convoluted questions seeking different sets of information, which led to a misunderstanding by Haaretz.On the record, the IDF called the entire Haaretz report false.Bluth has been alternately accused by right-wingers of being too strong in enforcement against illegal moves by settlers and by left-wingers of only carrying out enforcement against settlers when there are reported cases he cannot ignore, but without showing any serious initiative.IDF conducts field tours to examine incident areaEarlier on Saturday, Walla learned that commanders in the Central Command conducted field tours to examine the incident site on the Jericho border.

According to an IDF official, the examination of the citizens' claims regarding the purchase of the land will continue over the coming week.To date, the purchase process of the settlers remains unclear. A security official stated that, at this stage, it is not known whether the process has received the approval of the Civil Administration.An authoritative military source added that “the mission of the force located at a military outpost that previously existed in the sector is to ensure the security of all residents in the area and prevent terror and friction incidents.”Sources note incident could potentially impact other IDF operations in areaAt this stage, there is no intention to increase the military presence in the sector; however, the fact that the force is required for an additional, unexpected mission has the potential to impact other operational tasks in the region, the sources noted.As of Saturday night, Bluth decided that entry into and exit from the neighborhood will be carried out several times a day, accompanied by a military escort, until another decision is reached on the matter.Furthermore, checks conducted through the Civil Administration found that two families from the Bedouin community in the area chose to leave their temporary structures.

Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture

The article never says the settlers entered eight Palestinian homes inside the Palestinian city of Jericho, or that the entry was illegal. Without this, a reader believes the dispute is about a new camp on empty land near Jericho, not the takeover of Palestinian homes.

How we know

Times of Israel reported“a plan by Israeli settlers to illegally enter eight homes on the outskirts of the Palestinian city of Jericho”IDF Central Command chief reportedly told settlers not to alert other officers before Jericho entry (opens in a new tab)

The IDF contacted them and stressed that it intended to assist them so they would not be forced to evacuate; however, despite the offer, the families decided to leave.Also on Saturday, the IDF announced that Division 98, commanded by Brig.-Gen. Manny Liberty, will soon end its role as the second division in the West Bank. The division was deployed to the region a few weeks ago, with the start of the olive harvest season and following a sharp increase in nationalist crime, with the aim of improving command and control in areas with the potential for violence and terrorism.Amir Bohbot contributed to this report.

Read the original article on jpost.com

What we found (5)

The Jerusalem Post reports the IOF's denial that its West Bank commander coordinated a settler takeover near Jericho, but tells it as a settler move to a new outpost and calls the site a neighborhood, never saying the settlers illegally entered Palestinian homes in the Palestinian city of Jericho. It also calls the rise in violence during the olive harvest nationalist crime without naming settlers or their Palestinian victims, which the Post itself reported weeks earlier.

Tells the event as something else
Serious
“before the recent move of settlers to a new outpost near Jericho”
Why this matters
The words "move of settlers to a new outpost near Jericho" describe the event as settlers relocating to a fresh site outside the city.
The impression it gives
A reader believes settlers set up a new camp on open ground near Jericho, with no Palestinians affected.
The context
Times of Israel reports that settlers illegally entered eight homes on the outskirts of the Palestinian city of Jericho and moved into Palestinian homes. The Post's article never uses the word Palestinian or mentions homes.
How we know
- Times of Israel reported“a plan by Israeli settlers to illegally enter eight homes on the outskirts of the Palestinian city of Jericho”IDF Central Command chief reportedly told settlers not to alert other officers before Jericho entry (opens in a new tab)
- Times of Israel reported“until they had moved into the Palestinian homes”IDF Central Command chief reportedly told settlers not to alert other officers before Jericho entry (opens in a new tab)
- Checked against the whole articleIt never uses the words “Palestinian” and “homes”.
Show it in the article
Written straight
before settlers illegally entered eight Palestinian homes on the outskirts of the Palestinian city of Jericho, in the occupied West Bank.
Uses the occupation's words
Serious
“entry into and exit from the neighborhood will be carried out several times a day”
Why this matters
The Post calls the settler takeover "the neighborhood" in its own voice.
The impression it gives
A reader takes the site as an established residential area with settled standing, where army escorts are a routine service for residents.
The context
The site is Palestinian homes in Jericho that settlers entered illegally, according to Times of Israel. Under international law the settlements and outposts are illegal (R2).
How we know
- Times of Israel reported“Israeli settlers to illegally enter eight homes on the outskirts of the Palestinian city of Jericho”IDF Central Command chief reportedly told settlers not to alert other officers before Jericho entry (opens in a new tab)
- On the recordThe International Court of Justice's July 2024 advisory opinion found Israel's settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem illegal under international law.icj-cij.org (opens in a new tab)
Show it in the article
Written straight
Bluth decided that settlers at the outpost will enter and leave several times a day under military escort.
Softens settler violence
Serious
“following a sharp increase in nationalist crime”
Why this matters
The phrase "nationalist crime" describes the surge that brought in a second division without naming who committed it or who suffered it.
The impression it gives
A reader is left with a vague rise in crime of unclear origin, perhaps by Palestinians, given the sentence's mention of terrorism.
The context
The Post itself reported weeks earlier that the harvest season brought extensive reports of Jewish extremists harassing Palestinians and stopping their harvests. That is settler violence against Palestinians.
How we know
- The Jerusalem Post wrote earlier“Given extensive recent reports of Jewish extremists harassing Palestinians and preventing them from completing their harvests”IDF sources: Detention of US lawmaker nominee, 90 West Bank volunteers was complex - exclusive (opens in a new tab)
Show it in the article
Written straight
The division was deployed at the start of the olive harvest after a sharp rise in settler attacks on Palestinians.
Leaves out what changes the picture
Serious
What is missing
The article never says the settlers entered eight Palestinian homes inside the Palestinian city of Jericho, or that the entry was illegal. Without this, a reader believes the dispute is about a new camp on empty land near Jericho, not the takeover of Palestinian homes.
How we know
- Times of Israel reported“a plan by Israeli settlers to illegally enter eight homes on the outskirts of the Palestinian city of Jericho”IDF Central Command chief reportedly told settlers not to alert other officers before Jericho entry (opens in a new tab)
Show where it belongs
Hedges the documented record
Minor
“a new outpost near Jericho”
Why this matters
The Post names the outpost at the centre of its story but never says it sits in occupied territory or that outposts and settlements there are illegal under international law.
The impression it gives
A reader takes the outpost's legal status as an open question, to be settled by the Civil Administration or by a land purchase.
The context
The ICJ has found the occupation of the West Bank unlawful and the settlements illegal (R1, R2). The words occupied, occupation and international law do not appear in the article.
How we know
- On the recordThe International Court of Justice's July 2024 advisory opinion found Israel's occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem unlawful.icj-cij.org (opens in a new tab)
- On the recordThe International Court of Justice's July 2024 advisory opinion found Israel's settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem illegal under international law.icj-cij.org (opens in a new tab)
- Checked against the whole articleIt never uses the words “occupied”, “occupation” and “international”.
Show it in the article

How other outlets reported it

Times of IsraelIDF Central Command chief reportedly told settlers not to alert other officers before Jericho entry (opens in a new tab)

Spot something we missed? Report this article

IDF admits West Bank commander met settler official, denies secret coordination of Jericho outpost

Tells the event as something else

Uses the occupation's words

Softens settler violence

Leaves out what changes the picture

Hedges the documented record

How other outlets reported it

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