The head of Israel’s internal security bureau, the Shin Bet, issued an unprecedented warning about the threats to Israel posed by ultra-nationalist Jewish domestic terrorism.

In a letter sent to Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and other government ministers, Ronen Bar wrote: “I’m writing you this letter in pain, great fear, as a Jew, as an Israeli, and as a security man about the growing phenomenon of Jewish terrorism carried out by ‘hilltop youths.’”

Bar wrote that calling the attacks on Palestinians “nationalist criminality” wasn’t good enough, because the violence was being carried out, he said, to instil fear into Palestinians “in other words, terror”.

Bar’s letter, revealed yesterday by Israel’s Channel 12 news, warned that there was a perception that the police’s soft-handed approach to settler violence, along with “a secret sense of backing” was making the problem worse.

Inaction against Jewish terrorism could have dire consequences for Israel, he said, including: “global delegitimisation, even among our allies; spreading thin the IDF’s personnel which is struggling to keep up with all its missions and which wasn’t intended to deal with this; revenge attacks that are sparking another front in the multi-front war we are in; putting more players into the cycle of terror; a slippery slope to the feeling of a lack of governance; another obstacle to creating regional alliances that we need against the Shia axis; and above all, a massive stain on Judaism and all of us.”

Bar’s letter was written in the aftermath of far-right Israeli internal security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s controversial visit to the Temple Mount in which he said “Our policy is to allow prayer.” Prime Minister Netanyahu was forced to deny there had been a change to the Status Quo governing the holiest site in Judaism and the third holiest site in Islam in which Jews are not permitted to pray.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir seen at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City

Bar cautioned that actions such as Ben Gvir’s could lead to “bloodshed”.

Israel’s defence minister Yoav Gallant appeared to back the content of Bar’s letter and condemned his cabinet colleague. He posted on X/Twitter” “In the face of Minister Ben Gvir's irresponsible actions that endanger the national security of the State of Israel and create internal divisions in the nation, the head of Shin Bet and his staff are doing their jobs and warning about the dire consequences of these actions.”

But Ben Gvir quickly hit back and replied, “You promised to return Lebanon to the Stone Age, meanwhile you are returning the North to the Stone Age. Instead of attacking me on Twitter, start attacking Hezbollah in Lebanon.”