Worsening daily situations persist.
In the West Bank, tensions continue to escalate as Palestinian farmers and families face repeated attacks from settlers. The attacks, which have become more frequent and violent over time, have resulted in displacement, destruction of property, and the fragmentation of the territory.
Yaser Alkam, a Palestinian farmer, has been unable to access his land since October 7, 2023, due to settler attacks. Similarly, Eyshah Chtayyeh and her family have been forced to leave their home, livestock, and land, now living in a tin hangar as a result of these attacks. These incidents are not isolated, as settlers have been targeting Palestinians nightly, vandalising tractors, stealing sheep, and setting fires to houses.
The settlers' actions are part of a strategy to fragment the territory and prevent the emergence of a Palestinian state. This strategy is further reinforced by the Israeli government's support for the expansion of settlements in the West Bank. Yair Dvir, spokesperson for B'Tselem, notes that all Israeli governments, both left and right, have tacitly supported the expansion of settlements since the beginning of the occupation in 1967.
One of the most significant developments in this ongoing conflict is the establishment of a new outpost by Israeli settlers. Located at the bottom of a hill, the outpost initially consisted of tents, then mobile homes. The outpost is causing problems for local Palestinian families, including Sulaiman Abu Saif, a father of 10 children, who fears he may have to leave his land due to the attacks.
The Israeli government, under Benjamin Netanyahu, is leading a violent campaign of land grab in the West Bank. This campaign, which is not receiving much attention compared to the destruction of the Gaza Strip, includes the push for the E1 project - the construction of 3400 housing units between Jerusalem and the Maale Adumim settlement. If completed, the E1 project will cut the West Bank in two, between the north and the south.
The attacks are not only causing physical harm but also creating a sense of fear and insecurity among Palestinians. The UN has recorded over 2300 attacks by settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank since January 1, 2024. The organization supporting ultranationalist extremists in the West Bank in their actions to influence the land issue is the "Jewish National Fund" (JNF).
The radicalization of minors, known as the 'Hill Youth', is a concerning trend. Embracing the ideology of Kahaneism, which advocates for the expulsion of all Palestinians from the West Bank to make way for Jews in a biblical Greater Israel, these minors are not directly involved in the violence but employ a strategy of establishing outposts on hilltops to occupy the land until a new settlement is implanted.
The future of the West Bank remains uncertain as the cycle of settler attacks and displacement continues. Benjamin Netanyahu's declaration on September 11 that "there will be no Palestinian state" has further fuelled tensions in the region. The international community must take notice and take action to ensure peace and justice for all those affected by these ongoing attacks.
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
