A Palestinian was killed in heavy riots in the West Bank on Sunday, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. At least 100 others were injured, according to doctors, when Israeli settlers set fire to numerous Palestinian homes, shops and cars in the Huwara area.
The riots followed an attack that killed two Israelis on Sunday. The search for the perpetrators is still ongoing. In view of the risk of further escalation, the army announced in the course of the evening that it will send two additional battalions to the West Bank.
Earlier on Sunday, Israeli and Palestinian officials in the Jordanian port city of Aqaba had taken measures to “prevent further violence”.
After the meeting, both Israel and Palestine had “affirmed their joint willingness and commitment” to take immediate action to end unilateral measures for a period of three to six months.
The agreements also include Israel’s commitment not to talk about the establishment of new settlements for a period of four months and not to legalize ‘wild’ settlements for a period of six months.
Netanyahu: “No construction freeze”
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Twitter that Israel had not agreed to a building freeze. The further construction and legalization of settlements in the West Bank would therefore continue. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who is responsible for settlements, among other things, also wrote on Twitter that “the expansion and development of the settlement projects will not be frozen”. The Israeli army would also continue to take action against any form of terror, it was said.
Netanyahu did call on his subjects on Sunday evening not to “take matters into their own hands”.
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