Israeli liberal advocacy group pushing for a two-state solution
Several sources report that more than 4,000 Israeli settlers have stormed the Al-Aqsa compound on Tisha B’Av, with far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir entering under heavy police protection. Palestinian officials say restrictions barred many worshippers; officials warn the move could threaten the status quo and spur regional tensions.
Residents in Masafer Yatta and West Bank villages have reported repeated settler attacks, property damage and soldiers escorting or standing by during incidents. Witnesses have described settlers grazing livestock in homes' gardens, arson, and assaults near mosques. Humanitarian groups have recorded high demolition and displacement rates since October 2023.
The Times of Israel, BBC Business, France 24 and Bloomberg report that Israel has opened tenders for about 1,200 settlement homes in the E1 corridor, east of Jerusalem. The move draws international condemnation and raises concerns about a two-state solution. France, Germany, Italy and the UK join in urging reconsideration, while the EU and UN caution on the broader implications for regional stability.
Settlers have returned to Kadim, north of Jenin, with around 30 pioneer families arriving under military escort. The reopening follows the 2005 disengagement and signals a broader push to revive four northern West Bank settlements, amid a wider surge in settlement activity under Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government. Palestinian residents fear displacement as tensions rise alongside new outposts and tenders in nearby areas.
Palestinians face demolitions and clashes with Israeli forces and settlers across the West Bank, including Abu El-Ajaj Bedouin community near Jericho, Muthallath Al-Shuhada, and Faqqua. Dozens of structures are destroyed or threatened, livelihoods are impacted, and lives are at risk as operations widen amid rising tensions.
Tensions flare in the Jenin-area villages as Israeli settlers clash with Palestinian residents; troops have dispersed confrontations and investigated shootings, including a Palestinian man shot in the leg during stone-throwing incidents. Investigations are underway into the conduct of the soldiers involved.
The UK has announced a broad set of sanctions over Israeli settlements, targeting goods, financing and services linked to the West Bank. Lawmakers and experts call for a fuller approach, citing the occupation itself and the need for stronger action to support a two-state solution.