Latest news with #ultra-Orthodox
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Majority of Israelis want a state probe of Oct. 7, think politics preventing one
Over 73% of Israelis think that an investigation, as it is defined by law, should be formed. A large majority of Israelis from across the political spectrum support the foundation of astate commission of inquiry into the events leading up to and including October 7, 2023, according to a poll commissioned by the October Council. The October Council is a forum of bereaved families who lost loved ones in the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, and has pushed for the formation ofa probe. Over 73% of Israelis think that an investigation, as it is defined by law, should be formed, according to the poll. Among right-wing voters, 64% said a state probe should be formed, while only 17% said that another type of probe should be set up by the political echelon. When looking at religious characteristics, 57% of observant respondents called for a state probe, and just 15.2% of this sector said the political echelon should form a probe. Some 71.6% of traditional Jews supported a probe, and 89.4% of secular Jews supported a probe. The only group among whom a majority did not support a state probe was the ultra-Orthodox. Almost 30% of this population supports a probe, while 27.8% support another probe decided on by the political echelon. Around 18% say a probe is not needed, while 24.5% say that they don't know. Asked why they think 'the government is not interested in founding a state commission of inquiry to examine the failure of October 7,' a majority of respondents (64.2%) said it is because of 'political reasons.' Some 25% said this is because of substantive reasons, and around 10% said they did not know. Among right-wing voters, 51% said the reasons the government has not established a probe are political. Some 47% of Israelis agreed 'very much' with the statement 'it is important for me that the party I vote for commits to forming a state commission of inquiry,' while 25.8% said that they 'agree somewhat' with this statement. Just 20.4% 'somewhat' did not agree or 'very much' did not agree with this statement. Some 44.3% of respondents said that if the bereaved families called on the public to join an increased fight for a state inquiry, they would do so. 38.2% said that they would not. 'The survey data confirms what we experience on the ground every day – an overwhelming majority of the Israeli public, across all its sectors, demands to know the truth,' the October Council said. 'This is not a political matter; it is a national and security matter. The government's refusal to establish a state commission of inquiry stems from political considerations, not substantive ones. The public sees this very clearly.' This type of investigation is the most powerful probe in the legal system and the only type that operates independently of the political echelon. Its members are appointed by the chief justice of the Supreme Court, and it has the power to subpoena witnesses and make personal recommendations regarding individuals. An inquiry into the events surrounding October 7 has repeatedly been blocked by the political echelon. The poll, conducted by Midgam for the October Council, was answered by 1,000 people who make up a representative sample, the October Council said. Eliav Breuer contributed to this report.
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Israel announces creation of 22 settlements in West Bank
TEL AVIV: Israel announced on Thursday the creation of 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, risking further strain on relations with the international community already taxed by the war in Gaza. Israeli settlements in the West Bank are regularly condemned by the United Nations as illegal under international law, and are seen as one of the main obstacles to a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. The decision to establish more, taken by the country's security cabinet, announced by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, himself a settler, and Defence Minister Israel Katz, who is in charge of managing the communities. "We have made a historic decision for the development of settlements: 22 new communities in Judea and Samaria, renewing settlement in the north of Samaria, and reinforcing the eastern axis of the State of Israel," Smotrich said on X, using the Israeli term for the West Bank, which it has occupied since 1967. "Next step: sovereignty!" he added. Katz said the initiative "changes the face of the region and shapes the future of settlement for years to come." In a statement on Telegram, the right-wing Likud party of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the move a "once-in-a-generation decision", saying the initiative had been led by Smotrich and Katz. "The decision also includes the establishment of four communities along the eastern border with Jordan, as part of strengthening Israel's eastern backbone, national security and strategic grip on the area," it said. The party published a map showing the 22 sites spread across the territory. Two of the settlements, Homesh and Sa-Nur are particularly symbolic. Located in the north of the West Bank, they are actually re-settlements, having been evacuated in 2005 as part of Israel's disengagement from Gaza, promoted by then-prime minister Ariel Sharon. Current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, formed in December 2022 with the support of far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties, is the most right-wing in Israel's history. Human rights groups and anti-settlement NGOs say a slide towards at least de facto annexation of the occupied West Bank has gathered pace, particularly since the start of the Gaza war, triggered by Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel. "The Israeli government no longer pretends otherwise: the annexation of the occupied territories and expansion of settlements is its central goal," the Peace Now group said in a statement, adding the move "will dramatically reshape the West Bank and further entrench the occupation." In his announcement, Smotrich offered a preemptive defence of the move, saying: "We have not taken a foreign land, but the heritage of our ancestors." Some European governments have moved to sanction individual settlers, as did the United States under former president Joe Biden, though those measures were lifted by current President Donald Trump. Thursday's announcement comes ahead of an international conference to be led by France and Saudi Arabia at UN headquarters in New York next month, which is meant to resurrect the idea of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Supporters of the blueprint, which was the basis of successive rounds of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, say the prospects for a viable, contiguous Palestinian state alongside Israel are being undermined by the proliferation of settlements. The announcement also comes after US envoy Steve Witkoff said Wednesday he had "very good feelings" about the prospects for a Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, adding that he expected to send out a new proposal imminently.
France 24
6 days ago
- Politics
- France 24
Israel announces creation of 22 settlements in West Bank
Israeli settlements in the West Bank are regularly condemned by the United Nations as illegal under international law, and are seen as one of the main obstacles to a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. The decision to establish more, taken by the country's security cabinet, announced by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, himself a settler, and Defence Minister Israel Katz, who is in charge of managing the communities. "We have made a historic decision for the development of settlements: 22 new communities in Judea and Samaria, renewing settlement in the north of Samaria, and reinforcing the eastern axis of the State of Israel," Smotrich said on X, using the Israeli term for the West Bank, which it has occupied since 1967. "Next step: sovereignty!" he added. Katz said the initiative "changes the face of the region and shapes the future of settlement for years to come". In a statement on Telegram, the right-wing Likud party of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the move a "once-in-a-generation decision", saying the initiative had been led by Smotrich and Katz. "The decision also includes the establishment of four communities along the eastern border with Jordan, as part of strengthening Israel's eastern backbone, national security and strategic grip on the area," it said. The party published a map showing the 22 sites spread across the territory. 'Heritage of our ancestors' Two of the settlements, Homesh and Sa-Nur are particularly symbolic. Located in the north of the West Bank, they are actually re-settlements, having been evacuated in 2005 as part of Israel's disengagement from Gaza, promoted by then-prime minister Ariel Sharon. Current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, formed in December 2022 with the support of far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties, is the most right-wing in Israel's history. Human rights groups and anti-settlement NGOs say a slide towards at least de facto annexation of the occupied West Bank has gathered pace, particularly since the start of the Gaza war, triggered by Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel. "The Israeli government no longer pretends otherwise: the annexation of the occupied territories and expansion of settlements is its central goal," the Peace Now group said in a statement, adding the move "will dramatically reshape the West Bank and further entrench the occupation". In his announcement, Smotrich offered a preemptive defence of the move, saying: "We have not taken a foreign land, but the heritage of our ancestors." Some European governments have moved to sanction individual settlers, as did the United States under former president Joe Biden, though those measures were lifted by current President Donald Trump. Thursday's announcement comes ahead of an international conference to be led by France and Saudi Arabia at UN headquarters in New York next month, which is meant to resurrect the idea of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Supporters of the blueprint, which was the basis of successive rounds of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, say the prospects for a viable, contiguous Palestinian state alongside Israel are being undermined by the proliferation of settlements. The announcement also comes after US envoy Steve Witkoff said Wednesday he had "very good feelings" about the prospects for a Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, adding that he expected to send out a new proposal imminently.
Int'l Business Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Israel Announces Creation Of 22 Settlements In West Bank
Israel announced on Thursday the creation of 22 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, risking further strain on relations with the international community already taxed by the war in Gaza. Israeli settlements in the West Bank are regularly condemned by the United Nations as illegal under international law, and are seen as one of the main obstacles to a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. The decision to establish more, taken by the country's security cabinet, announced by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, himself a settler, and Defence Minister Israel Katz, who is in charge of managing the communities. "We have made a historic decision for the development of settlements: 22 new communities in Judea and Samaria, renewing settlement in the north of Samaria, and reinforcing the eastern axis of the State of Israel," Smotrich said on X, using the Israeli term for the West Bank, which it has occupied since 1967. "Next step: sovereignty!" he added. Katz said the initiative "changes the face of the region and shapes the future of settlement for years to come". In a statement on Telegram, the right-wing Likud party of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the move a "once-in-a-generation decision", saying the initiative had been led by Smotrich and Katz. "The decision also includes the establishment of four communities along the eastern border with Jordan, as part of strengthening Israel's eastern backbone, national security and strategic grip on the area," it said. The party published a map showing the 22 sites spread across the territory. Two of the settlements, Homesh and Sa-Nur are particularly symbolic. Located in the north of the West Bank, they are actually re-settlements, having been evacuated in 2005 as part of Israel's disengagement from Gaza, promoted by then-prime minister Ariel Sharon. Current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, formed in December 2022 with the support of far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties, is the most right-wing in Israel's history. Human rights groups and anti-settlement NGOs say a slide towards at least de facto annexation of the occupied West Bank has gathered pace, particularly since the start of the Gaza war, triggered by Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel. "The Israeli government no longer pretends otherwise: the annexation of the occupied territories and expansion of settlements is its central goal," the Peace Now group said in a statement, adding the move "will dramatically reshape the West Bank and further entrench the occupation". In his announcement, Smotrich offered a preemptive defence of the move, saying: "We have not taken a foreign land, but the heritage of our ancestors." Some European governments have moved to sanction individual settlers, as did the United States under former president Joe Biden, though those measures were lifted by current President Donald Trump. Thursday's announcement comes ahead of an international conference to be led by France and Saudi Arabia at UN headquarters in New York next month, which is meant to resurrect the idea of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Supporters of the blueprint, which was the basis of successive rounds of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, say the prospects for a viable, contiguous Palestinian state alongside Israel are being undermined by the proliferation of settlements. The announcement also comes after US envoy Steve Witkoff said Wednesday he had "very good feelings" about the prospects for a Gaza ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, adding that he expected to send out a new proposal imminently. Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who is himself a West Bank settler, has long been an outspoken advocate of settlement expansion. AFP
Jordan News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Jordan News
Extremist Settlers Storm Al-Aqsa Under Protection of Israeli Police - Jordan News
On Thursday morning, extremist Jewish settlers stormed the courtyards of the Al-Aqsa Mosque – Al-Haram Al-Sharif – in occupied Jerusalem under the protection of Israeli occupation police. اضافة اعلان In a statement, the Islamic Waqf Department in Jerusalem reported that dozens of ultra-Orthodox settlers entered the mosque compound through the Moroccan Gate, performed provocative Talmudic rituals in its courtyards, and carried out suspicious tours, all under heavy police protection. The Israeli police also prevented worshippers from entering the mosque through its various external gates, enforcing access restrictions with iron barricades throughout the Old City to secure the settlers' incursions.
