US using normalisation as ‘bargaining chip’ with Israel against annexing West Bank
Shireen Salti, a political analyst, says the US pushback against an Israeli annexation of the occupied West Bank does not guarantee anything unless it is tied to “some type of accountability measures”.
Salti told Al Jazeera from Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, that the US is using normalisation plans as a “bargaining chip” with the Israelis against annexation.
On its part, Israel seems to be using “these annexation policies or the formalisation of them, even though they’re already going on, as yet another negotiation chip on the bargaining table, expecting gratitude from the Americans”, Salti said.
On the ground in the occupied West Bank, Salti explained that Israel has kept up attacks in the Palestinian territory without the formal annexation.
“Let’s say the Israelis come in full force [and] intensify even more the already ongoing ammunition and air strike attacks and seizing of land in the West Bank, there could be grave consequences which the PA [Palestinian Authority] already warned about,” she added.
Israeli forces storm occupied West Bank’s Beita town
Israeli forces have stormed the town of Beita, south of Nablus, in the occupied West Bank, according to our colleagues at Al Jazeera Arabic.
According to the Wafa news agency, Israeli troops stormed the town amid heavy gunfire and let off tear gas bombs, which have led to the outbreak of clashes in the area.
Israeli forces arrest groom, father on way to wedding west of Ramallah
Israeli forces have arrested a groom and his father while they were going to Rantis town, west of Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, to bring the bride.
The Wafa news agency reported, citing local sources, that soldiers stopped the car carrying Aoun Safi, and his father, Mazen Safi, at the entrance to the town, and detained and arrested them. Troops also seized the car’s key.
The sources added that the arrest occurred as the family was on its way to complete the wedding ceremony.
