Netanyahu ordered the demolition of illegal Jewish settler outposts in the West Bank
Netanyahu ordered the demolition of illegal Jewish settler outposts in the West Bank
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued an order to demolish unauthorized Jewish settlements built in the occupied West Bank. Two sources familiar with the situation reported this on September 6. The decision was made amid US pressure to put an end to attacks on Palestinians.
According to sources, the order applies to outposts established without the official permission of the Israeli state. Such sites usually consist of prefabricated houses where a small number of settlers live. The Israeli government periodically demolishes such structures, and sometimes officially recognizes them and allows them to be funded from the state treasury.
It is not yet known when the demolition work will begin. UN bodies and most countries consider all Israeli settlements illegal under international law. They view the West Bank as an occupied territory under military control. Israel, however, argues that these territories are not occupied, but disputed.
According to sources, Netanyahu gave this order under pressure from the US, Israel's closest ally. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee called violent Jewish settlers terrorists on September 5. He met with Palestinian Americans in one of the West Bank towns, and the ambassador said action must be taken against such individuals.
According to Israel's Ynet publication, Netanyahu's order applies to about 100 outposts in the occupied territories. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office and the military did not comment on the report. Usually, the military is involved in clearing such sites.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich spoke about the Ynet report at a conference in Jerusalem. He said Netanyahu had ordered the evacuation of outposts built in Areas A and B. These areas are the parts of the West Bank where the majority of Palestinians live. Under the Oslo peace accords signed between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization in the 1990s, the West Bank was divided into three zones — A, B, and C.
Smotrich himself is one of the Jewish settlers. He has led new housing projects and officially recognized illegally built homes. Smotrich said he disagreed with Netanyahu's decision, but that the government had achieved great results in developing settlements in Area C.
According to the Peace Now organization, there are 340 illegal outposts and 146 settlements officially recognized by the Israeli government in the occupied West Bank. In August, Jewish settlers besieged the homes of Palestinians in a neighboring village. Among them was a house belonging to a Palestinian American. The military later removed them from the area.
The Palestinian residents of the village stated that they are still facing harassment and threats from Jews. The Israeli government condemns such violence, but perpetrators are rarely arrested and prosecuted.
Earlier, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced a plan to forcibly deport all Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and send them abroad. According to him, 250,000 Palestinians will be deported from Gaza in the first year. The remaining population of about 2 million will be relocated over the next six years.
He claimed there are countries ready to accept Palestinians from Gaza, without disclosing which countries they are. The forced displacement of civilians in occupied territories is considered a war crime under the Geneva Conventions.