Rare US-European condemnation of settler violence.. Occupation escalates repression in the West Bank, and Cohen vows to continue settlement

The occupation forces continued their escalatory campaign against the Palestinians in the cities of the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem, at a time when the American Office for Palestinian Affairs in Jerusalem condemned the "indiscriminate acts of violence" committed by settlers in the Palestinian areas.

The Israeli Minister of Internal Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, called for changing what he called the concept of security and moving from defense to attack, adding in a tweet on Twitter that "there will be no containment, but rather a striking hand," he said.

Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered the reinforcement of his forces in the West Bank with a fourth battalion, after assessing the security situation there, and said he expected that "the coming period will witness complex and difficult days."

In turn, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen confirmed that the construction of new Israeli settlements in the West Bank will continue during the current government's era, as it was during the era of its predecessor.

"We will certainly continue to build there as well," Cohen said today, Tuesday, at a press conference on the sidelines of his visit to the German capital, Berlin.

And the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs pledged to continue settlement (Reuters)

American condemnation

On the other hand, the US Office for Palestinian Affairs in Jerusalem condemned what it called "the indiscriminate, widespread and unacceptable acts of violence committed by Israeli settlers in Palestinian areas."

In a statement, the office expressed its concern about these actions, and said, "We want to see full accountability and prosecution of those responsible for the heinous attacks committed by settlers."

The statement indicated that the US Special Envoy, Hadi Amr, visited the victims of the recent Hawara attack, and expressed his condolences to the Palestinian families there.

In the context, the American Axios website quoted a report by the US State Department as saying that Israeli security forces do not prevent settler attacks on Palestinians, explaining that Israel rarely arrests or accuses settlers who commit acts of violence against Palestinians.

European position

In international positions as well, the European Union today, Tuesday, expressed its "grave concern" about the escalating violence in the occupied West Bank, and condemned the attacks on civilians.

The European Union condemned the settler violence, which led to the death of a Palestinian, the wounding of hundreds of others, the burning of homes and shops, and the unacceptable destruction of Palestinian property.

The union said in a statement that its official for foreign policy and security, Josep Borrell, had contacted the Israeli and Palestinian authorities, calling for an end to violence and terrorism and the protection of all civilians.

Borrell called on all parties to take immediate steps to end what he called the deadly cycle of violence, prevent further loss of life, and ensure accountability and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The effects of settler attacks in the town of Hawara in Nablus (Reuters)

Repression continues

In field developments, the occupation forces closed the main and secondary entrances to the city of Jericho, and impounded vehicles at a military checkpoint.

The occupation forces also raided a number of citizens' homes last night in Aqabat Jabr camp, south of the city.

In the West Bank, the Israeli occupation arrested at least 8 Palestinians in the town of Ya`bad in Jenin, and others in the Arroub camp in Hebron, after its forces stormed the Shuafat camp in Jerusalem at dawn today, Tuesday, and arrested a young man from the camp.

Palestinian sources said that the occupation forces transferred all detainees to centers for interrogation in cases related to resistance to the occupation.

attacks in Jerusalem

The Israeli occupation forces demolished a house under the pretext of building without a permit in Jabal al-Mukabber, southeast of occupied Jerusalem.

Palestinian media said that the occupation forces stormed the town and proceeded to demolish the house of Ihab al-Hussaini's family, in which he, his wife and two children lived.

The media indicated that the occupation municipality handed the house owner an order to demolish it in the middle of this month, and gave him 3 weeks to carry out the demolition himself, but he refused.

And in the town of Al-Issawiya, northeast of occupied Jerusalem, Israeli occupation police forces stormed the town and surrounded the house of citizen Zakaria Muheisen, then a bulldozer proceeded to demolish the house under the pretext that its owner did not obtain a building permit.

Since last Sunday, several Palestinian villages in the vicinity of Nablus, in the northern West Bank, have witnessed unprecedented attacks by Israeli settlers. The attacks resulted in the death of a Palestinian, dozens of injuries, and the burning and destruction of dozens of homes and cars.