Palestine weekly: Israeli politicians vie to look toughest before election
Summary
Israel’s election campaign is intensifying with politicians making strong public displays, including opening a new settlement in the West Bank which is considered illegal under international law. At the same time, there are ongoing demolitions of Palestinian homes, increased restrictions on Palestinian movement, and rising tensions around religious sites in Jerusalem during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.Key Facts
- Israeli ministers held a ceremony to open a new West Bank settlement called Metzoke Eretz, previously an outpost on private Palestinian land.
- The Israeli government has legalized 104 settlements in the West Bank during its current term, which remain illegal under international law.
- Large-scale demolitions in Palestinian villages such as Jinba displaced about 180 people, including children.
- Israeli forces imposed road closures and checkpoints across the West Bank for about a week during the Jewish holidays.
- Palestinian access was restricted in East Jerusalem to allow settler religious visits at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
- Settlers uprooted and destroyed hundreds of olive trees in Palestinian villages, some centuries old.
- Violence included a Palestinian attack fatally wounding the son of Israel’s U.S. ambassador before the attacker was killed.
- Israeli political figures made strong statements and videos related to conflict with Palestinian groups ahead of the election.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
