Harsh measures in W. Bank 'mistaken’: Israeli commander

By Osama al-Ghassani

JERUSALEM

Israeli Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General, Gadi Eisenkot, has warned against adopting harsh measures against Palestinians in the West Bank, Israeli media reported on Sunday.

"There's the thinking here that if we only apply more force against terrorism, it will end," Eisenkot was quoted as saying by The Jerusalem Post newspaper during a conference dubbed “The Army and the Israeli Society”.

"That's a mistaken approach. I frequently hear that deterrence has collapsed, but such a concept is elusive. Deterrence doesn't drop and isn't built in a day,” he said.

He said it was in Israel’s interest not to escalate the situation in the West Bank.

Eisenkot’s warning came in response to calls by Israeli officials and ministers for using force in the wake of recent Palestinian attacks.

Regarding a recent U.S. decision to withdraw troops from Syria, Eisenkot said "the army has operated independently in this region for decades".

"The arrival of the Russians at the end of 2015 created a new challenge, and made it necessary for us to establish a mechanism to prevent friction," he said.

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered all of the U.S. forces in Syria to withdraw from the country, saying Daesh's defeat was his sole reason for being in the civil war-torn country.

The U.S. began its air campaign in Syria in 2014, deploying troops to the country to assist in the anti-Daesh fight alongside local partners the year after.

Reports have suggested U.S. forces will leave within 60 to 100 days.