Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warns that Palestinian anger is about to explode in the occupied territories. Violence has increased in recent weeks.
On New Year’s Eve, another Palestinian was killed by Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank. According to the Israeli army, he was armed with a knife and in the process of attacking soldiers and civilians at a bus stop. No injuries were reported.
The man is said to have got out of a car, which then drove off. It was later reported that a man who was in the same car has been arrested.
The Ramallah Ministry of Health has confirmed the death.
There have been several attacks on Israelis in occupied Palestinian territories in recent times. Earlier in December, an ultra-Orthodox Jew was attacked outside the wall of the Old City of East Jerusalem. The Israeli was seriously wounded, while the Palestinian was shot and killed on the spot.
Revenge attacks on Palestinians
In recent weeks, there have also been several cases in which Israeli settlers in the West Bank have attacked Palestinians after a settler was shot and killed by a Palestinian in the north of the West Bank.
The killing sparked a series of revenge attacks in which at least four Palestinians have been injured. This in turn has triggered a series of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers.
In a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called the situation explosive.
Abbas points to Israeli settlements, the confiscation of Palestinian land, the demolition of residential buildings and what he calls “settler terror” as an explanation for why rage among Palestinians is increasing.
“If the Israeli measures continue, the situation will explode,” Abbas said.
Met Gantz
Abbas spoke with Putin two days after a sensational meeting with Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz at the latter’s residence. The meeting has been criticized by extremist groups on both the Palestinian and Israeli sides.
Several months ago, Gantz visited Abbas in Ramallah in the West Bank.
Following the meeting this week, the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced “confidence-building measures” that will ease the economic situation for the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, as well as reduce tensions.
But Abbas stresses that this is not enough, according to the Palestinian news agency Wafa.
“Economic and security measures are not a substitute for the political trail,” Abbas told Putin, adding that the central council of the PLO will make several important decisions in the coming months.
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