The settlements are seen as major stumbling blocks toward peace efforts since they are built on land the Palestinians view as part of their future state. At least 147 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, 102 of them identified by Israel as attackers.
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The settlers said they had bought the properties legally from Palestinian owners but in order to occupy the apartments they need Defense Ministry’s approval. This week, Israeli forces also demolished six structures in the West Bank funded by the EU’s humanitarian arm, which provided dwellings and latrines for Palestinian Bedouins living in the area.
A 13-year-old Palestinian girl has been shot dead at a settlement in the occupied West Bank after she attempted to stab an Israeli security guard.
Freige was referring to recent accusations by Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström that Israel has been conducting “extra-judicial killings” of Palestinians during the current wave of violent attacks, now some four months old.
Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian homes on Thursday in the city and verbally abused residents, Israeli rights group B’Tselem told the Ma’an news agency.
An Israeli soldier removes the Israeli flag from a house as Israeli troops forcibly remove Jewish settlers from homes, in the West Bank city of Hebron January 22, 2016.
Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon would have to approve the settlers’ move, which would in effect expand the boundaries of the Jewish area in Hebron.
“A 13-year-old Palestinian girl with a knife in her hand ran toward the civilian security guard at Anatot [settlement]”, Luba Samri, an Israeli police spokesperson, said in a statement. “Therefore the invaders were evacuated”.
The incident stirred unrest in the right-wing coalition of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which hold only a one-seat majority in the parliament.
Israeli police alleged that Ruqayya Abu Eid had tried to stab the guard who killed her, but neither he nor any member of the Israeli security forces was hurt. Media reported that three parliamentarians were threatening to boycott Knesset votes until those evicted were allowed back in.
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“This is the time to fight terror and strengthen and support the settlements, and not to fight the settlers”, he posted on Twitter.
