In a concerning development, officials under Israel’s far-right settler minister Bezalel Smotrich have been granted additional powers over the occupied West Bank and its Palestinian population. This move has raised alarm among human rights groups and advocates for Palestinian rights, who fear that the already marginalized Palestinian community will face further repression and discrimination under the minister’s control.
The decision to give Smotrich’s officials more authority over the West Bank demonstrates the Israeli government’s continued disregard for international law and its obligations to the Palestinian people. Critics argue that this move will only exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation in the occupied territory, where Palestinians face restrictions on their movement, lack of access to basic services, and frequent violence at the hands of Israeli security forces and settlers.
With Smotrich’s track record of advocating for the annexation of the West Bank and implementing discriminatory policies against Palestinians, many fear that this latest power grab will only embolden further human rights violations and deepen the cycle of violence and oppression in the region. The international community must speak out against this escalation of repression and hold Israel accountable for its actions in the occupied territories.
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Video “Far-right Israeli minister given more powers over Palestinians | Al Jazeera Newsfeed” was uploaded on 06/21/2024 to Youtube Channel Al Jazeera English