Last year has been termed one of the most painful years for Palestinians in terms of the scale of human loss, the increase in Israeli aggression, and, more recently, the election of an extreme right-wing Israeli government whose trajectory points at a further denial of their human rights.
According to the United Nations (UN), 2022 is the deadliest year for Palestinians in the West Bank in 16 years. Israeli forces killed at least 171 Palestinians in the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem in 2022, including more than 30 children. At least 9,000 others have been injured.
Just yesterday, Al Jazeera reported that the Israeli army killed two Palestinian men during a raid on a village near Jenin in the northern occupied West Bank. Already 2023 begin on a sombre note for the Palestinians, and the international community still drags its feet to call Israel to order.
Also, the new Israeli national security minister said he intends to enter the al-Aqsa mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem in the coming days. The move could set the tone for Palestinian protests and a potential crackdown by the settlers. This comes on the back of provocative plans to advance and develop a settlement in all parts of the land of ‘Israel.’
Consequently, the Shura Council, in its regular weekly session yesterday chaired by Speaker H E Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim, condemned the continued attempts of the Israeli government to Judaize the city of Jerusalem and Al Aqsa Mosque, warning of the danger of settlement development activities on the peace process and the two-state solution.
The Shura Council pointed out that these Israeli practices are a clear violation of the rights of the Palestinian people and international covenants and resolutions related to the status of the city of Jerusalem. The Council called on the Arab Parliament, the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the parliaments of the world to take a stand on the settlement policy as a flagrant assault and a blatant violation of the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people.
In the same vein, the Arab Parliament yesterday denounced the Israeli government’s attempts to develop settlements in the West Bank and Jerusalem City, considering such practices a flagrant challenge to the laws of the international community.
In a statement, the Arab Parliament warned against Israeli practices and called on the UN and the international community to act immediately to halt the settlement plots of the Israeli government. The parliament highlighted the actions in Jerusalem, which represents an attempt to alter the geographical and historical landmarks of the city, along with the persistent violations against the sanctity of the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.
