Palestine weekly: Israeli politicians vie to look toughest before election | Features News
Political Tensions Rise Ahead of Israeli Elections
As Israel approaches its upcoming elections, the political landscape is becoming increasingly charged. Candidates and political parties are acutely aware that every action could influence voter sentiment.
This week, high-ranking ministers participated in the inauguration of an illegal settlement in the West Bank, which coincided with a campaign-style speech. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly, defiantly continuing his remarks as representatives from several nations walked out.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir released a video from an Israeli prison, where he issued threats towards a jailed Hamas figure, while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for military action in the occupied West Bank. These developments occur during the Jewish festival of Sukkot, which has led to increased security measures and restrictions at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Settlement Construction and Demolitions Increase
On September 23, Israeli ministers and members of parliament attended the founding ceremony for the new settlement, Metzoke Eretz, located in the occupied West Bank. The politicians, including Smotrich, asserted that only a Netanyahu-led government would continue the trend of settlement expansion.
Metzoke Eretz replaces the previous Netzah Harel outpost, established in 2023, and sits on private Palestinian land adjacent to the depopulated Bedouin community of al-Muarrajat al-Wasat. The Israeli government has legalized this settlement, along with 103 others, despite their illegality under international law.
Simultaneously, large-scale demolitions have targeted the Palestinian community in Masafer Yatta, with reports indicating that 24 homes were destroyed in the village of Jinba on September 23, displacing approximately 180 residents, including more than 80 children, according to the Israeli rights group B’Tselem.
In light of the Jewish holidays, Israeli authorities announced a week-long closure of the occupied West Bank and its crossings. Restrictions were placed on roads and village access, particularly around Ramallah, where checkpoints were set up, leading to severe traffic congestion.
On Monday, soldiers at a checkpoint in Atara prevented ambulances from crossing. Local activists reported that patients were forced to be transported in private vehicles instead. In the town of Sinjil, access has been further restricted as the only entrance was closed.
In occupied East Jerusalem, restrictions on Palestinian movement intensified during the holiday period, with far-right Rabbi Yehuda Glick leading religious ceremonies at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, attracting thousands of settlers to the site.
These rising tensions were compounded by an incident on September 23, in which a Palestinian allegedly drove into a group of Israelis at a checkpoint near Ramallah, critically injuring Neria Leiter, son of Israel’s ambassador to the United States, before being shot dead.
Settler Violence and Agricultural Disputes
Reports of violence continued in the West Bank, with Israeli settlers uprooting olive trees in Beit Ur al-Fauqa and bulldozers razing groves in Nabi Saleh and Beit Rima. Activists claim these actions, which destroyed hundreds of trees, were carried out under the guise of security measures after a settler was killed near Halamish.
As the olive harvest approaches, settlers have been reported stealing olives in the neighboring areas of Sinjil, Turmus Aya, and Umm Safa. Violence perpetrated by settlers also persisted, including assaults on Palestinians in Farkha and Burqa.
Continued Violence in Gaza Amid Ceasefire
In the Gaza Strip, violence has persisted despite a declared ceasefire, with daily drone strikes on civilian areas reported. Local sources indicate that 27 Palestinians were killed over the past week, raising the total death toll to 1,421 since the ceasefire began, and surpassing 74,000 since the onset of hostilities in October 2023.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with Israel continuing to block adequate humanitarian aid. A United Nations Trade and Development report revealed that 92 percent of Gaza’s economic institutions have been damaged or destroyed.
The U.S.-established Board of Peace has announced a $2.45 billion reconstruction package for Gaza. However, this support is contingent on the disarmament of Hamas.
