Violence by Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank is set to reach record levels this year, as human rights groups warn that they are increasingly spreading into new areas of the territory. Attacks on Palestinians have risen under Israel’s current government, alongside a rapid increase in Israeli settlements, illegal under international law. Many of
A financial crisis that has long been predicted by Russia experts and Kremlin insiders appears to have finally arrived as banks see depositors scramble to pull out their money amid fears it may be seized. In the first half of August, Russians withdrew $3.4 billion (286.4 billion rubles), according to central bank data cited by
Samer is partially blind and has a leg injury that makes moving difficult. “Fear dominates everything. We are completely defenceless,” he said. “All of them have weapons. I’m bringing concrete blocks to close off this side of the house because I’m afraid for my children.” Samer has watched settlements – and settler attacks – grow
It was during a ceremony at a settlement in the occupied West Bank last September that Israel’s prime minister made his intentions clear. “We are going to fulfill our promise that there will be no Palestinian state,” said Benjamin Netanyahu. “This place belongs to us.” He was signing an agreement to push ahead with the
Despite an Israeli court challenge to the plans by Bedouin Palestinians living in the area and Israeli peace groups, on Wednesday the Israeli housing ministry issued a tender for 1,234 of the 3,401 housing units approved by the Israeli government last August. It covers about 12 sq km (4.6 sq miles) between East Jerusalem and
Israel captured the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, from Jordan in the 1967 Middle East War. It annexed East Jerusalem in 1980, in a move not recognised by the vast majority of the international community. Opponents of the E1 project have warned that it would effectively block the establishment of a Palestinian state because it