RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinians fear that the next Israeli government, most likely led by Benjamin Netanyahu and including extreme-right leaders Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, will inflame the situation on the ground in the Palestinian territories.

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said during a cabinet session on Nov. 21 that the next Israeli government is preparing to declare war on the Palestinians, under the leadership of the settlers.

The upcoming Israeli government attaches great importance to many files that would anger the Palestinians, including tightening the measures on Palestinian prisoners inside Israeli jails, clamping down on the Palestinians’ living conditions, increasing settlers’ incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque, expanding settlements in the West Bank, legalizing random outposts, changing the police and army’s shooting instructions at Palestinians and increasing Israeli army raids into West Bank cities and towns. 

Zvika Vogel, a Knesset member for the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, said in a television interview on Nov. 17 that Ben Gvir will be internal security minister in the new government. “We intend to target terrorism in its source and stop it there, and we will transfer the war to the enemy arena,” he added.