Meanwhile, on the West Bank Front

[Gramsci]

More details on Smotrich speech.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/smotrich-recorded-describing-mega-dramatic-plan-for-civilian-control-over-west-bank/

His party as part of power sharing deal appears to have free hand in West Bank

the recording, Smotrich described at length how he planned to transfer authority from the military to civilians under his authority in the Defense Ministry, where he was handed broad power as demanded in his Religious Zionism party’s coalition deal with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud.

“We created a separate civilian system,” Smotrich said, adding that to deflect international scrutiny, the government has allowed the Defense Ministry to remain involved in the process, according to the Times.

 

[teqniq]

 

[teqniq]

 

[yield]

Israel raids and shuts down Al Jazeera’s bureau in Ramallah in the West Bank
September 22, 2024

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Israeli troops raided the offices of the satellite news network Al Jazeera in the Israeli-occupied West Bank early Sunday, ordering the bureau to shut down amid a widening campaign by Israel targeting the Qatar-funded broadcaster as it covers the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

Al Jazeera aired footage of Israeli troops live on its Arabic-language channel ordering the office to be shut for 45 days. It follows an order issued in May that saw Israeli police raid Al Jazeera’s broadcast position in East Jerusalem, seizing equipment there, preventing its broadcasts in Israel and blocking its websites.

The move marked the first time Israel has ever shuttered a foreign news outlet operating in the country. However, Al Jazeera has continued operating in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and in the Gaza Strip, territories that the Palestinians hope to have for their future state.

Israel acknowledges raid on Al Jazeera

The Israeli military acknowledged conducting the raid 12 hours later, alleging without providing evidence that the newsroom was “being used to incite terror, to support terrorist activities and that the channel’s broadcasts endanger ... security and public order.”

Al Jazeera denounced Israel’s “unfounded accusations” as it continued broadcasting live from Amman, Jordan, even as Israeli troops welded shut its office doors in Ramallah and confiscated its equipment.

“Al Jazeera will not be intimidated or deterred by efforts to silence its coverage,” it said.

Armed Israeli troops entered the office and told a reporter live on air that it would be shut down, saying that staff needed to leave immediately. The network later aired what appeared to be Israel troops tearing down a banner on a balcony used by the Al Jazeera office. Al Jazeera said it bore an image of Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian-American journalist shot dead by Israeli forces in May 2022.

 

[teqniq]

FFS

 

[Mr.Bishie]

Not a lot being reported from the West Bank, but just had this message from my friend Medyan;

“ In the West Bank the situation is also quite grim. The economy has collapsed, while attacks from settlers keep increasing including in the village my family members live. It is also much more difficult for Palestinians to travel in the West Bank, and people are very concerned.”

 

[teqniq]

Very comprehensive article from the FT on West Bank settlers and the active collusion of the Israeli state. Does not seem to be behind a paywall at this time:

How extremist settlers in the West Bank became the law

archived version:

How extremist settlers in the West Bank became the law

 

[Duncan2]

Very comprehensive article from the FT on West Bank settlers and the active collusion of the Israeli state. Does not seem to be behind a paywall at this time:

How extremist settlers in the West Bank became the law

Nope paywalled for me

 

[teqniq]

Nope paywalled for me

Archived version now included

 

[Johnny Vodka]

What would you do with this twat?

Israeli settlers make West Bank olive groves a battleground

Donald Trump's foreign policy appointments so far indicate his administration will take a much softer line on illegal Israeli settlements on the West Bank and some may even support Israel's plans - announced by its finance minister this week - to annex the territory completely.

www.channel4.com

 

[Mr.Bishie]

MSF Condemns Israeli Raid on West Bank Hospital

www.middleeasteye.net

Also, “Netanyahu says Lebanon ceasefire does not signify end of war as Israeli settlers escalate attacks on Palestinian property in the occupied West Bank.”

 

[Gramsci]

Watch No Other Land - BFI Player

This powerful documentary from a Palestinian-Israeli collective might be one of the most important films of this year.

player.bfi.org.uk

This documentary has got a release here on BFI player.

Been in news over last months. Made by an Israeli and Palestinians together.

No Other Land review – powerful Israel-Palestine documentary is essential viewing

A Palestinian-Israeli collective have documented violence and displacement in a damning new film that offers a stark insider’s look at the conflict

www.theguardian.com

 

[ska invita]

Action on this thread now. Trump has given settlers the green light: sanctions lifted:

"Shortly after suspected Jewish settlers stormed Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank late Monday, setting cars and property ablaze, US president Donald Trump cancelled sanctions against Israelis accused of violence in the territory, reports the Associated Press (AP).

Settler leaders rushed to praise Trump’s decision on the sanctions, which were first imposed nearly a year ago as violence surged during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The sanctions were later expanded to include other Israelis seen as violent or radical.

Israel’s finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, called it a just decision, saying the sanctions were a “severe and blatant foreign intervention.” In a post on social media platform X, he went on to praise Trump’s “unwavering and uncompromising support for the state of Israel”.

 

[Mr.Bishie]

ffs

 

[yield]

Israel launches military operation in West Bank city
DW. January 21, 2025

Israeli forces have begun an operation in Jenin, with local officials reporting at least two Palestinians killed. The city and its adjacent refugee camp — a known militant hub — has been a recent focus of Israeli raids.

The Israeli military said on Tuesday that security forces had begun a counterterrorism operation in the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank, just days after a ceasefire went into effect in the other Palestinian territory of Gaza.

The Palestinian Health Ministry said at least two Palestinians were killed and others wounded in an Israeli strike on a built-up refugee camp near the city.

An Israeli airstrike in the refugee camp last week killed three people.

The operation was preceded by a weekslong attempt by Palestinian Authority security forces to regain control of Jenin and the camp, which is home to armed militant groups.

Escalating violence

The Gaza war has brought with it an increase in violence in the West Bank. The Health Ministry says more than 800 people have been killed by Israeli operations in the West Bank since October 7, 2023

 

[yield]

Why is Israel launching a crackdown in the West Bank after the Gaza ceasefire?
AP. January 23, 2025

In the days since a fragile ceasefire took hold in the Gaza Strip, Israel has launched a major military operation in the occupied West Bank and suspected Jewish settlers have rampaged through two Palestinian towns.

The violence comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces domestic pressure from his far-right allies after agreeing to the truce and hostage-prisoner exchange with the Hamas militant group. U.S. President Donald Trump has, meanwhile, rescinded the Biden administration’s sanctions against Israelis accused of violence in the territory.

It’s a volatile mix that could undermine the ceasefire, which is set to last for at least six weeks and bring about the release of dozens of hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, most of whom will be released into the West Bank.

Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war, and Palestinians want all three territories for their future state. Escalations in one area frequently spill over, raising further concerns that the second and far more difficult phase of the Gaza ceasefire — which has yet to be negotiated — may never come.

A rampage and a military raid

Dozens of masked men rampaged through two Palestinian villages in the northern West Bank late Monday, hurling stones and setting cars and property ablaze, according to local Palestinian officials. The Red Crescent emergency service said 12 people were beaten and wounded.

Israeli forces, meanwhile, carried out a raid elsewhere in the West Bank that the military said was in response to the hurling of firebombs at Israeli vehicles. It said several suspects were detained for questioning, and a video circulating online appeared to show dozens being marched through the streets.

On Tuesday, the Israeli military launched another major operation, this time in the northern West Bank city of Jenin, where its forces have regularly clashed with Palestinian militants in recent years, even before Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack out of the Gaza Strip triggered the war there.

At least nine Palestinians were killed on Tuesday, including a 16-year-old, and 40 were wounded, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. The military said its forces carried out airstrikes and dismantled roadside bombs and “hit” 10 militants — though it was not clear what that meant.

 

[Gramsci]

In the West Bank, Palestinian unemployment is now Israeli policy

After October 7, Israel revoked the work permits of more than 150,000 Palestinians. On top of spiraling settler attacks, my village faces financial ruin.

www.972mag.com

The Israel state oppression of Palestinians isn't just about military attacks. Its ongoing economic undermining of Palestinian society in a variety of ways.

This being increased over last year.

Settlement building with gradual encroachment onto Palestinian farming land over years made many Palestinians effectively landless workers thrown off their land. The alternative source of income was getting permits to go and work for Israelis as construction workers.

Israel withdrew these permits after October 7th. Leaving Palestinian workers destitute. Not being able to access their farmland and grazing land has meant that they cannot use this as alternative income.

Attacks by Zionists have increased. Zionists tolerated by the official forces such as IDF. These Zionist groups whilst not officially allowed can get away with what they do as the state tacitly supports them.

The article shows how West Bank occupation is Zionist colonialism in practice