An influential Israeli wrote: "This is strange, we thought settlements bring security, didn’t we? Here are some facts that might help you make a decision:1. The size of the forces that the Israeli army is forced to keep in the West Bank exceeds half of the army’s combat strength. This means the number of forces there is greater than those allocated to defend all other fronts—Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip, and the Arava—combined.2. The border line between Israel and the West Bank is at least five times longer than it would have been without the settlements.3. In the Jewish community in Hebron, only about 800 permanent settlers live, in addition to approximately 250 religious institute students. To protect them, amidst a Palestinian population of 33,000, the Israeli army maintains an entire infantry battalion in the city and about two border police companies—roughly 600 security personnel. For every two settlers, there is approximately one soldier guarding them.4. On the morning of October 7, when thousands of Israelis were slaughtered in the south of the country without protection, there were effectively only two battalions stationed on the Gaza Strip border, while in the West Bank, no fewer than 32 battalions were deployed.Contrary to the claims of the right, settlements do not bring security; they consume it. Because they require so many resources, there wasn’t enough left for the south. Israel must choose: either settlements or security."