Israel is cementing its control over the West Bank and East Jerusalem while the world is distracted
Every action Israel takes in the occupied territories makes a future Palestinian state more unlikely.
While the world is preoccupied with the US-Iran conflict and the tumultuous talks regarding Gaza, the Israeli government is quietly advancing its control over the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Recently, the Israeli authorities have authorized a new settlement in a region of the West Bank called E1, located east of Jerusalem. This move will result in a two-part split of the West Bank, isolating the Palestinian city of Ramallah from Bethlehem and diverting East Jerusalem away from the rest of the West Bank. For Palestinians, East Jerusalem is a crucial component of any future Palestinian state.
Settler leader Bezalel Smotrich considers each new settlement in the West Bank as "another nail in the coffin" of a Palestinian state. The government's hesitance to approve settlements in E1 has been due to international pressure, especially from former US administrations. However, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political prospects dwindling ahead of October elections, he might be willing to forego international opposition for domestic support, believing the Trump administration will protect Israel diplomatically.
The situation in Qusra, a village in the West Bank, is a stark reminder of the escalating security concerns for Palestinians. Israeli settlers have besieged the homes of Palestinian families, cutting off water, electricity, and preventing them from leaving their residences. The Qusra incident has sparked international backlash, including denunciations from the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, even as Israeli police and soldiers have taken no punitive action.
The deteriorating security situation in the West Bank is further compounded by the expropriation of Palestinian land and the expansion of illegal settlements, with Israel declaring 23 square kilometers of West Bank land as state property in 2024. Furthermore, Israeli security officials have approved 34 new settlements, bringing the total to over 100 since the right-wing Netanyahu government took office in 2022.
Regarding East Jerusalem, the site of the al-Aqsa Mosque compound and Western Wall is not only sacred for Jews, Muslims, and Christians but also a contentious issue due to Israel's perceived sovereignty over the area. Former Israeli Opposition Leader Ariel Sharon's visit in 2000 is seen as a catalyst for the Second Intifada, while 2021's Israeli security forces' blockade of Palestinian worshippers at the compound led to a brief, deadly clash between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's recent entry into the Temple Mount site to pray and display Israeli flags has raised concerns among Jordan, which has called for an urgent Arab and Muslim foreign minister meeting to address the "imminent" threat of an Israeli takeover of the site.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
