Two Palestinian brothers were shot dead in a raid in Qaryut, south of Nablus. New attacks and assaults also in the Christian village of Taybeh. Fr Bashar: not isolated incidents, but a ‘growing pattern of violence’ that raises “concerns”. Barriers and isolation, the West Bank increasingly similar to the Strip, victim of ‘state violence’.
Yesterday, the body created by the US president met for the first time with pledges for funding, and the establishment of an International Stabilisation Force (ISF) with troops from Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, and Albania, as well as a Palestinian police force. The first reconstruction projects are set to start in Rafah, but many unresolved issues remain. For Palestinian analyst, it is not just a humanitarian issue.
In the latest instalment of AsiaNews' reportage in the Vicariate of Northern Arabia, Fr Paulraj Devaraj shares his testimony. A “multicultural” community looks on with concern at regional tensions, from Gaza to Iran. There is “greater sensitivity” among the faithful, many of whom have “family and friends affected by the war”. The parish alone is the “centre” of activities, with numerous pastoral challenges.
The Israeli association that fights against the political use of urban planning in the West Bank to seize land from Palestinians explains the bad faith of the rule that requires proof of ownership in Area C. At stake is 58% of the land in a context where there was no land registry before 1967. Activists and NGOs speak of an ‘unprecedented measure’ since the Six-Day War. Michal Braier: “discriminatory” legal system, ‘systematic’ expropriation to favour settlements.
The entire area of the ancient city of Samaria north of Nablus has been expropriated and separated from the nearby Palestinian village in the name of promoting only the Jewish period of its history. Meanwhile, the Knesset is discussing the establishment of an authority to extend control over archaeological assets even in areas assigned to the Palestinian Authority.
The latest settler attacks in Palestinian areas include uprooted olive groves, torched cars, insults sprayed on the walls of houses, and attacks on students. “Attention only comes when there is a serious attack or a tragic event!” Father Bashar laments. However, “the situation is difficult for us every day.” Lebanon accuses Israel of spraying toxic substances on fields and farmland in its southern villages.
