Analysis: Why Israel needs a ‘sober separation’ from the Palestinians

Dr. Michael Milshtein, a senior researcher at the Moshe Dayan Center at Tel Aviv University, argues in an analysis for Ynet that the recent events in the West Bank village of Qusra are not an isolated incident, but a direct consequence of the current settlement 'revolution.' He contends that the reported violence against Palestinians and the failure of law enforcement to intervene reflect the formation of an 'extraterritory' with its own values, which ultimately threatens the security of the entire state.

Milshtein argues that proponents of settlement expansion are leveraging the public trauma following October 7 to frame an ideological and faith-based project as a national security necessity. He suggests that much of the Israeli public, still reeling from the trauma of the massacre, has become receptive to these narratives without fully considering the long-term implications of a single-state reality involving two distinct classes of citizenship.

The analyst warns that relying on the assumption of unwavering support from the Trump administration is a strategic error. He suggests that as Washington observes Israel’s perceived loss of strategic balance and its heavy reliance on force, the U.S. may eventually feel compelled to impose order in the West Bank to prevent further regional instability.

Ultimately, Milshtein posits that Israel faces two difficult choices: drifting toward a single-state reality, which he warns will lead to perpetual, bloody conflict, or pursuing a path of 'sober separation.' He clarifies that this separation does not necessarily imply the immediate establishment of a Palestinian state, but rather a careful demarcation of boundaries that maintains control over vital areas like the Jordan Valley, aimed at preserving Israel’s democratic character and security.