Knesset member calls crucial bridge closure ‘petty revenge’
Aida Touma-Sliman, a left-wing Palestinian member of the Knesset, says Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision to close the King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge, which connects the occupied West Bank to Jordan, is “petty revenge” for many nations moving to recognise a Palestinian state.
In a post on X, she also called on countries around the globe to take action to stop the far-right Israeli government’s dangerous moves.
“Netanyahu threatens further steps in the near future. The nations of the world who finally understood the danger of the transfer and extermination government must act immediately to block Netanyahu’s destructive and devastating policies.”
Palestine condemns Israel’s ‘unjustified’ closure of Allenby crossing
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry has called for international pressure on Israel to reopen the King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge – the only crossing between Jordan and the occupied West Bank – after Israel announced its indefinite closure.
In a statement, the Palestinian ministry called the closure of the Israeli-controlled crossing – which follows an attack last week by a Jordanian aid truck driver that killed two Israeli soldiers – a form of “collective punishment”.
“The crossing is the only route for the movement of more than three million Palestinians living in the West Bank to the outside world, and its closure causes massive humanitarian and economic harm, leaving thousands of Palestinians stranded, unable to return to their jobs, studies, and families, or to travel for medical treatment.”
The vital crossing between the occupied West Bank and Jordan is now closed indefinitely
Time for international community to act over settlers’ West Bank attacks: Lawyer
The situation for Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank is “getting worse” during frequent Israeli settler attacks, says international human rights lawyer Diana Buttu. The international community has to act, as the Israeli government, which backs the settlers, will do nothing to stop the colonial violence, Buttu told Al Jazeera.
The Palestinian-Canadian lawyer also took aim at Israeli authorities over their fragmentation of Palestinian land through their illegal settlement programme.
“From the time the Israeli government allowed the very first settlement to go up … it has meant the death of the two-state solution,” Buttu said. “This can be undone, but it requires political will, and that political will is simply not there,” she added. “It’s not enough to condemn, it’s now time for the world to be active.”
Buttu said some countries’ recent recognition of the state of Palestine should be followed by arms embargoes against Israel.
