Israel-US tensions grow over West Bank escalation
With elections just a month out and despite American warnings, Prime Minister Yair Lapid is sticking with his hawkish line on West Bank security escalation.
As tensions escalate in the West Bank, the Israeli press reported Sept. 28 that Defense Minister Benny Gantz intends to approve the construction of new settlement housing units. The reports came following a conversation between the minister and settlers who demonstrated outside his house. Gantz reportedly said he intends to approve plans before the Nov. 1 elections.
On Sept. 29, seven-year-old Rian Suleiman died during an IDF operation near Nablus. His family claims that he died of a heart attack while running away from the troops. The United States urged Israel to open a probe. State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel said, “We are heartbroken by the death of an innocent child. We support an immediate and thorough investigation.”
The Biden administration has made several statements expressing growing concern over the deteriorating security situation in the West Bank.
State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Sept. 28 that Israel and the Palestinians must put a stop to the escalation in violence. He noted that over 100 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank and another 30 in Gaza over the last year, along with 20 Israelis. “The United States and other international partners stand ready to help but we cannot substitute for vital actions by the parties to mitigate conflict and to restore calm,” warned Price.
