Palestinian-Israeli movement calls for multinational force in occupied West Bank

What Happened

On Tuesday, the joint Palestinian-Israeli movement A Land for All – Two States, One Homeland launched a campaign calling for the deployment of a multinational protection force in the occupied West Bank to counter escalating settler violence. The appeal was announced at a press conference in the village of Kafr Malik, east of Ramallah, where Palestinian residents described months of settler attacks, restricted access to farmland, and fears of displacement. Palestinian co-director Rula Hardal said a statement was sent last week to international actors and diplomatic missions in Palestine and Israel, urging support for the force. Israeli co-founding president Meron Rapoport accused the Israeli government and military of pursuing 'a clear plan of ethnic cleansing' in the occupied territory. Co-chair Yael Berda highlighted the 'consistent threat of violence from settler militias' in Kafr Malik and argued that 'international pressure in the abstract is no longer enough.' Resident Abdel Fattah Hamayel praised the solidarity but stressed the absence of an official Palestinian strategy and the emboldening of settlers by Israel's far-right government. The movement contends that international intervention is urgently needed to protect Palestinian civilians and preserve the prospect of a future political settlement.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The campaign reflects a growing urgency among peace activists as settler violence in the West Bank escalates, with the movement explicitly describing the situation as 'imminent ethnic cleansing' backed by Israel’s far-right government. By demanding international intervention, it bypasses the stalled political process and puts pressure on diplomatic missions to move beyond verbal condemnation. The choice of Kafr Malik — a central West Bank village facing direct settler threats — illustrates the geographic spread of the violence and the grassroots fear of displacement. The call also signals a shift in joint Israeli-Palestinian advocacy toward concrete protective measures rather than only long-term political solutions.

Watch For

Monitor responses from international actors and diplomatic missions to the movement’s statement sent last week; any discussion of a protection force at the UN Security Council or among individual governments; further escalation of settler attacks in Kafr Malik or nearby villages; potential Israeli government or Knesset reactions condemning or dismissing the call; and whether the campaign gains traction in other West Bank communities or influences upcoming diplomatic deadlines or ICJ/ICC proceedings related to the occupation.