A group of senior Israeli ex-military officials helped Palestinian farmers on Tuesday to harvest olives, in a gesture of solidarity amid an upsurge in extremist settler violence targeting Palestinians in the West Bank.
"When I see what is going on here, when I see these guys come... and hit women and kids, it reminds me of stories from my parents from the time when the Jewish people suffered," said Maj.-Gen. (ret.) Eyal Ben-Reuven, who compared the extremist settler attacks to pogroms.
Ben-Reuven said he began organizing a group of around 30 senior military officials, including six generals, several months ago following an increase in extremist settler violence.
The IDF has said it condemns violence and it operates to maintain security in the West Bank.
"Occupation is the main problem of Israeli society. I believe we must deal with it, we cannot ignore it. We must try to solve it together with the Palestinians," said Col. (ret.) Doron Meinert.
Ben-Reuven, others concerned over Israel's global reputation
Ben-Reuven and others said they were also concerned about the impact of settler violence on Israel's global reputation.
"Strategically, tactically, it's creating problems for the state of Israel in the West and the United States," said Jonatan Yoni, a former brigadier-general, who said he was also motivated by the plight of Palestinian farmers and by opposition to Israeli annexation of the West Bank.
Meinert, who now dedicates much of his time to volunteering in the West Bank in support of Palestinians, also said that the IDF aided the settlers.
Some Israeli soldiers, Meinert added, share the extremist settlers' belief that only Jews "have the right to this area and that the Arabs should be expelled or stay here as second (class) residents."
The IDF has said it is the people's army and reflects the full spectrum of views in Israeli society.