Latest news with #JordanValley


Arab News
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Saudi Foreign Ministry condemns Israeli Knesset's call to Impose control over Occupied West Bank and Jordan Valley
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreogn Affairs has condemned on Thursday the Israeli Knesset's call to impose control over the occupied West Bank and Jordan Valley, describing it as a blatant violation of international law and United Nations resolutions. Israel's parliament approved a symbolic measure calling for the annexation of the occupied West Bank on Wednesday. Lawmakers voted 71-13 in favour of the motion which called for 'applying Israeli sovereignty to Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley'. In a statement, the ministry said the actions by the Israeli authorities undermined efforts to achieve peace through the two-state solution, and reflected a continued insistence on destruction and destabilization. #وزارة_الخارجية: المملكة تدين وتستنكر مطالبة الكنيست الإسرائيلي بفرض السيطرة على الضفة الغربية والأغوار الفلسطينية المحتلة، والذي يُعد انتهاكًا صارخًا للقوانين الدولية وقرارات الأمم المتحدة. — واس العام (@SPAregions) July 24, 2025 The motion, advanced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition is non-binding and the Kingdom reaffirmed its rejection of all violations committed by the Israeli authorities against the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights to self-determination. It also called on the international community to take serious steps to implement UN resolutions that uphold the Palestinian people's inherent right to live in dignity on their land, within an independent state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. has no direct legal implications, though it could place the issue of annexation on the agenda of future debates in the parliament.


Al Bawaba
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
Israeli Knesset passes motion to officially annex West Bank and Jordan Valley
Published July 23rd, 2025 - 03:20 GMT The non-binding resolution, passed by a landslide majority with 71 votes, against 13, signals a formal political shift toward annexation and has sparked strong regional and international concern. ALBAWABA- In a major escalation of Israeli policy, the Knesset on Wednesday overwhelmingly passed a motion calling for the application of full Israeli sovereignty over the occupied West Bank and the Jordan Valley. Also Read Gaza: 76 children died of starvation The non-binding resolution, passed by a landslide majority with 71 votes, against 13, signals a formal political shift toward annexation and has sparked strong regional and international concern. — RT (@RT_com) July 23, 2025 The motion asserts that the West Bank is no longer to be treated as a territory under temporary military occupation, but as an integral part of the Israeli state. As a result, Palestinians in the West Bank would be considered residents under Israeli law rather than citizens, with their legal status subject to revocation. Legal analysts warn that this move could allow Israel to strip Palestinians of their residency rights if they are deemed non-compliant with Israeli regulations. This opens the door to potential large-scale displacements, particularly to third countries with which Israel has signed agreements. Those who remain are likely to face restrictions on civil and political rights, further entrenching a system of legal and political inequality. Also Read Israel struck Hodeida port in Yemen The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the Knesset's decision, describing it as a "dangerous step toward institutionalized apartheid" and "a direct violation of international law and Palestinian sovereignty." Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a key figure in the far-right coalition, welcomed the vote. He also renewed calls for a full military occupation of Gaza and advocated for what he termed a "humanitarian separation plan", a controversial proposal aimed at displacing Gaza's population and dismantling Hamas through overwhelming force or forced population transfer. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israeli settlers accused of killing 117 sheep in West Bank attack
Israeli settlers accused of killing 117 sheep in West Bank attack By Ali Sawafta JORDAN VALLEY, West Bank (Reuters) -Palestinian Bedouins accused Israeli settlers on Friday of killing 117 sheep in an overnight attack and stealing hundreds of others in an apparent effort to chase farmers off their land in the occupied West Bank. The incident comes amid what the United Nations described this week as intensifying attacks by Jewish settlers and security forces against Palestinians in the West Bank and record mass displacements. The Israeli army did not respond to a request for comment about the mass slaughter of the animals belonging to the Arab al-Kaabaneh Bedouin community, in the Jordan Valley. Veterinarians were called in to treat a handful of sheep which had survived the knife and gun attack, some of the animals shaking uncontrollably and in apparent shock. Salem Salman Mujahed, a resident of Arab al-Kaabaneh, said multiple groups of settlers working in coordination had orchestrated the assault, and accused the army of standing by. "(Settlers) came near the houses. I asked them what are you doing here then we started fighting with each other," he said. "The army detained me, and they handcuffed me." He said other groups of settlers then attacked the sheep, which are vital to his community's survival. Reuters was unable to independently verify who was responsible for the attack. Palestinian Minister Moayad Shaaban condemned the incident, calling it part of a broader strategy to displace Palestinians from the region. "These sheep and animals were slaughtered and shot at," he told Reuters. "They are using these tools to terrify these people to leave these areas, which have been inhabited for dozens of years." MOVING AWAY The attack prompted at least one family to begin relocating. Bedouin Tareq Kaabaneh said he could no longer withstand what he called settler intimidation. "They were armed, they steal donkeys and sheep. In the night they come here and start shooting toward us," Kaabaneh said. "I am moving now from here, I want to protect my kids and my sheep, my livelihood ... yesterday I was safe, but I don't know what will happen to me tomorrow," he added. The United Nations reported this week that mass displacements in the West Bank had reached levels unprecedented since Israel first took military control of the territory nearly six decades ago. The U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva also said there had been 757 settler attacks on Palestinians or their properties since January - a 13% increase from the same period last year. At least 964 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023. Over the same period, 53 Israelis have been killed in attacks by Palestinians or in armed clashes. The U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee demanded this week a full investigation into the killing of a Palestinian American who was beaten to death by settlers in the West Bank on July 11, describing it as a "criminal and terrorist act". The United Nations' highest court said last year that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories, including the West Bank, was illegal and should end as soon as possible. Israel disputes this, citing security needs as well as historical and biblical ties to the land, which it captured in the 1967 Middle East war. The West Bank is among the territories Palestinians seek for an independent state.


Asharq Al-Awsat
6 days ago
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Israeli Settlers Accused of Killing 117 Sheep in West Bank Attack
Palestinian Bedouins accused Israeli settlers on Friday of killing 117 sheep in an overnight attack and stealing hundreds of others in an apparent effort to chase farmers off their land in the occupied West Bank. The incident comes amid what the United Nations described this week as intensifying attacks by Jewish settlers and security forces against Palestinians in the West Bank and record mass displacements, according to Reuters. The Israeli army did not respond to a request for comment about the mass slaughter of the animals belonging to the Arab al-Kaabaneh Bedouin community, in the Jordan Valley. Veterinarians were called in to treat a handful of sheep which had survived the knife and gun attack, some of the animals shaking uncontrollably and in apparent shock. Salem Salman Mujahed, a resident of Arab al-Kaabaneh, said multiple groups of settlers working in coordination had orchestrated the assault, and accused the army of standing by. "(Settlers) came near the houses. I asked them what are you doing here then we started fighting with each other," he said. "The army detained me, and they handcuffed me." He said other groups of settlers then attacked the sheep, which are vital to his community's survival. Palestinian Minister Moayad Shaaban condemned the incident, calling it part of a broader strategy to displace Palestinians from the region. "These sheep and animals were slaughtered and shot at," he told Reuters. "They are using these tools to terrify these people to leave these areas, which have been inhabited for dozens of years." MOVING AWAY The attack prompted at least one family to begin relocating. Bedouin Tareq Kaabaneh said he could no longer withstand what he called settler intimidation. "They were armed, they steal donkeys and sheep. In the night they come here and start shooting toward us," Kaabaneh said. "I am moving now from here, I want to protect my kids and my sheep, my livelihood ... yesterday I was safe, but I don't know what will happen to me tomorrow," he added. The United Nations reported this week that mass displacements in the West Bank had reached levels unprecedented since Israel first took military control of the territory nearly six decades ago. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva also said there had been 757 settler attacks on Palestinians or their properties since January - a 13% increase from the same period last year. At least 964 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023. Over the same period, 53 Israelis have been killed in attacks by Palestinians or in armed clashes. The US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee demanded this week a full investigation into the killing of a Palestinian American who was beaten to death by settlers in the West Bank on July 11, describing it as a "criminal and terrorist act". The United Nations' highest court said last year that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories, including the West Bank, was illegal and should end as soon as possible. Israel disputes this, citing security needs as well as historical and biblical ties to the land, which it captured in the 1967 Middle East war. The West Bank is among the territories Palestinians seek for an independent state.


Al Arabiya
6 days ago
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Israeli settlers allegedly kill 117 sheep in West Bank attack
Palestinian Bedouins accused Israeli settlers on Friday of killing 117 sheep in an overnight attack and stealing hundreds of others in an apparent effort to chase farmers off their land in the occupied West Bank. The incident comes amid what the United Nations described this week as intensifying attacks by Jewish settlers and security forces against Palestinians in the West Bank and record mass displacements. The Israeli army did not respond to a request for comment about the mass slaughter of the animals belonging to the Arab al-Kaabaneh Bedouin community, in the Jordan Valley. Veterinarians were called in to treat a handful of sheep which had survived the knife and gun attack, some of the animals shaking uncontrollably and in apparent shock. Salem Salman Mujahed, a resident of Arab al-Kaabaneh, said multiple groups of settlers working in coordination had orchestrated the assault, and accused the army of standing by. '(Settlers) came near the houses. I asked them what are you doing here then we started fighting with each other,' he said. 'The army detained me, and they handcuffed me.' He said other groups of settlers then attacked the sheep, which are vital to his community's survival. Reuters was unable to independently verify who was responsible for the attack. Palestinian Minister Moayad Shaaban condemned the incident, calling it part of a broader strategy to displace Palestinians from the region. 'These sheep and animals were slaughtered and shot at,' he told Reuters. 'They are using these tools to terrify these people to leave these areas, which have been inhabited for dozens of years.' Moving away The attack prompted at least one family to begin relocating. Bedouin Tareq Kaabaneh said he could no longer withstand what he called settler intimidation. 'They were armed, they steal donkeys and sheep. In the night they come here and start shooting toward us,' Kaabaneh said. 'I am moving now from here, I want to protect my kids and my sheep, my livelihood ... yesterday I was safe, but I don't know what will happen to me tomorrow,' he added. The United Nations reported this week that mass displacements in the West Bank had reached levels unprecedented since Israel first took military control of the territory nearly six decades ago. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva also said there had been 757 settler attacks on Palestinians or their properties since January - a 13 percent increase from the same period last year. At least 964 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since the start of the war in Gaza in October 2023. Over the same period, 53 Israelis have been killed in attacks by Palestinians or in armed clashes. The US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee demanded this week a full investigation into the killing of a Palestinian American who was beaten to death by settlers in the West Bank on July 11, describing it as a 'criminal and terrorist act.' The United Nations' highest court said last year that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories, including the West Bank, was illegal and should end as soon as possible. Israel disputes this, citing security needs as well as historical and biblical ties to the land, which it captured in the 1967 Middle East war. The West Bank is among the territories Palestinians seek for an independent state.