Arab states await Israel's election with hope, but few illusions
The expulsion of more than 250 Palestinian families from Hebron fuels fears of wider displacement. Eisenkot could offer room for diplomacy, but his positions on security give Israel's neighbors little reason to expect a break with the use of force
Following the killing of two Israeli soldiers and the wounding of three others by Palestinian gunmen, Israel has conducted a major military operation across the occupied West Bank. Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that approximately 2,000 residents have been evacuated from the Hebron neighbourhood of the two assailants and will not be permitted to return until all Hamas issues in the area are addressed.
During the operation, homes and businesses were demolished, and gates and checkpoints were closed to Palestinian drivers. In Deir Bahha, the neighbourhood of the suspected gunmen, Israeli forces issued overnight evacuation warnings to residents.
Haaretz reports that the expulsion of more than 250 Palestinian families from Hebron has fueled fears regarding wider displacement. While the report notes that Eisenkot could potentially offer opportunities for diplomacy, his security positions provide neighbors little reason to expect a departure from the use of force. These military actions occur just days before Israel's general election, where voters will decide whether to maintain Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
Brief written by urgent.news from Haaretz, ABC News AU — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 4 other outlets
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- Israel's Arab citizens must vote before it's too late haaretz.com
- Israel to close all land crossings with West Bank on election day al-monitor.com
