A Palestinian warning of the “explosion of the West Bank” with the escalation of settler attacks

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The Palestinian Authority renewed its warning of the "explosion" of the West Bank, in light of the escalation of settler violence and attacks on Palestinians.

The Secretary of the Fatah movement, Jibril Rajoub, said, “This is a volcano that will explode sooner or later,” stressing that confronting this should be peaceful.

Rajoub also added in an interview with Agence France-Presse that “the terrorism practiced by the army and settlers under the supervision of the Israeli government against people, trees, stones, the mosque and the church (...) is a prelude to a reaction and an upcoming explosion,” according to his estimation, but he saw on the other hand that “adopting peaceful, non-violent struggle has become a necessity and a strategic choice for all Palestinians.” He considered that "bloodshed is no longer an acceptable option, and should not be part of any national option."

The Palestinian warning came in conjunction with the European Union's condemnation, on Sunday, of attacks launched by settlers in the West Bank, including attacks targeting European diplomats.

In addition, Rajoub pointed out that the factions “stressed the unity of political representation through the Liberation Organization” and “one authority, one law, and one legitimate weapon,” indicating that “no Palestinian faction may seek to impose its own agenda on the Palestinian people outside democratic frameworks and national institutions.”

He stressed that achieving Palestinian goals would be “by adopting political and diplomatic engagement,” pointing to a recent round of dialogue held in Cairo “with the aim of putting the Palestinian house in order and confronting the occupation by non-violent means,” explaining that the Fatah movement presented at the meeting “a comprehensive vision for national partnership” and a vision of the nature of “peaceful confrontation with the occupation despite the crimes it commits.”

Earlier today, Al-Arabiya/Al-Hadath sources reported that the Fatah movement believes that the atmosphere of the Palestinian national dialogue, which is being held under Egyptian sponsorship, is positive, in light of Cairo’s efforts to overcome obstacles to the launch of a comprehensive Palestinian national dialogue.

While Rajoub pointed out, “The desire to amend the PLO’s commitments or change its political program passes through the ballot boxes and participation in the organization’s institutions in accordance with its existing rules and obligations.” He said that the dialogue with Hamas aims to "end the state of division and dispersion," speaking of Hamas' willingness to "reach formulas that achieve the unity of the homeland, the land, the people, and the political system."

Legislative elections were scheduled to be held next November, but President Mahmoud Abbas issued a presidential decree postponing them until September of next year, calling for them to be held simultaneously with presidential elections.

It is noteworthy that the violence in the West Bank in recent months has witnessed an escalation in attacks on Palestinians and their property, including the seizure of olive groves and attacks on farmers during the harvest season.

Note that about three million Palestinians live in the West Bank, excluding East Jerusalem, which has been occupied by Israel since 1967, along with more than 500,000 Israelis residing in settlements considered illegal under international law.

Violence in the West Bank has resulted in the deaths of more than 1,100 Palestinians since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, most of them shot by Israeli forces, according to a tally prepared by Agence France-Presse based on data from the Palestinian Ministry of Health. On the other hand, Israeli figures indicate that about 50 Israelis were killed in the West Bank during the same period, in Palestinian attacks or during Israeli military operations.