Page 30 - bon-dia-aruba-20210616

A30 world news
Diaranson 16 Juni 2021

New Israel government vows change, but not for Palestinians

rights groups say amount to atar after an Israeli who was the rights of others,” his fa- the Palestinians and much of
apartheid. In Gaza, which has killed in an attack in 2013, ther, Said, said at a mourning the international community
been under a crippling block- was built without the per- event attended by dozens of as a major obstacle to peace
ade since the Hamas militant mission of Israeli authorities villagers. He described his because they make it nearly
group seized power in 2007, on land the Palestinians say son as a popular teenager impossible to create a contig-
it’s even worse. is privately owned. Israeli who got good grades and was uous, viable state of Palestine
troops have evacuated set- a natural leader. alongside Israel.
“They talk about it being a tlers from the site three times
government of change, but before, but they returned af- “Thank God, I’m very proud Every Israeli government
(AP) — Israel’s fragile new it’s just going to entrench the ter an Israeli was killed in a of my son,” he said. “Even in since 1967 has expanded the
government has shown lit- status quo,” said Waleed As- shooting attack nearby early martyrdom he distinguished settlements, and this one is
tle interest in addressing saf, a Palestinian official who last month. himself.” unlikely to be an exception.
the decades-old conflict coordinates protests against Bennett briefly served as
with the Palestinians, but West Bank settlements. Clearing them out again The villagers fear that if the head of a major settler orga-
it may not have a choice. “Bennett is a copy of Netan- would embarrass Bennett outpost remains, it will even- nization, and his party is one
yahu, and he might even be and other right-wing mem- tually swallow up even more of three in the coalition that
Jewish ultranationalists are more radical.” bers of the coalition, who al- of their land, growing and strongly support settlements.
already staging provocations ready face fierce criticism — merging with some of the
aimed at splitting the coali- Bennett said little about the and even death threats — for more than 130 authorized Hagit Ofran, an expert on
tion and bringing about a Palestinians in a speech be- allying with centrist and left- settlements across the occu- settlements with the Israeli
return to right-wing rule. In fore being sworn in on Sun- wing factions to oust Netan- pied West Bank, where nearly rights group Peace Now, says
doing so, they risk escalating day. “Violence will be met yahu. 500,000 settlers live. the settlers have always used
tensions with the Palestinians with a firm response,” he illegal outposts to challenge
weeks after an 11-day Gaza warned, adding that “security The government faces a sim- “We’re not a political game in Israeli authorities, a trend she
war was halted by an infor- calm will lead to economic ilar dilemma over a parade the hands of Bennett or Ne- expects to accelerate under
mal cease-fire. moves, which will lead to re- through east Jerusalem or- tanyahu,” said Mohammed the new government.
ducing friction and the con- ganized by ultranationalists Khabeesa, a resident who
Prime Minister Naftali Ben- flict.” that is due to be held Tues- says he owns land near the “Because the settlers feel this
nett’s best hope for maintain- day. The march risks setting settler outpost that he can no government is not their gov-
ing his ruling coalition — Environment Minister Tam- off the kind of protests and longer access without a mili- ernment, challenging it, psy-
which consists of eight par- ar Zandberg, a member of clashes that helped ignite last tary permit. chologically, will be much,
ties from across the political the dovish Meretz party, told month’s Gaza war. much easier,” she said.
spectrum — will be to man- Israeli television’s Channel “The settlements are like a
age the conflict, the same ap- 12 that she believes the peace Meanwhile, Palestinians cancer,” he said. “Everyone She hopes the new govern-
proach favored by his prede- process is important, but that from the adjacent village of knows they begin small, and ment will at least put the
cessor, Benjamin Netanyahu, the new government has Beita have held regular pro- then they take root and ex- brakes on larger settlement
for most of his 12-year rule. agreed, “at least at this stage, tests against the settlement pand at people’s expense un- projects, including massive
But that method failed to not to deal with it.” outpost. Demonstrators have til they reach our homes.” infrastructure that will pave
prevent three Gaza wars and thrown stones, and Israeli the way for future growth.
countless smaller eruptions. The government faces an ear- troops have fired tear gas and A spokeswoman for the set-
ly challenge on Jabal Sabeeh, live ammunition. Three pro- tler organization behind the “I think it’s more easy po-
That’s because the status quo a hilltop in the northern West testers have been killed, in- outpost did not respond to a litically to stop big budgets
for Palestinians involves ex- Bank where dozens of Jewish cluding 17-year-old Moham- request for comment. and big projects rather than
panding settlements in the settlers rapidly established an med Hamayel, who was shot evicting an outpost,” she said.
occupied West Bank, loom- outpost last month, paving dead Friday. Initial reports Israel captured the West “I would rather see that the
ing evictions in Jerusalem, roads and setting up living said he was 15. Bank, east Jerusalem and government is stopping the
home demolitions, deadly quarters that they say are now Gaza in the 1967 Mideast big projects rather than fight-
shootings and an array of home to dozens of families. “I always taught him you war, territories the Palestin- ing over every hilltop. The
discriminatory measures should stand up for your ians want for a future state. settlers have the opposite in-
that two well-known human The settlement, named Evi- rights without infringing on The settlements are seen by terest.”

Serbia, Kosovo restart EU-brokered talks, remain far apart

(AP) — The leaders of Miroslav Lajcak. “What is While Kosovo has been rec- which “we commit as states tinue by the end of July. He
Serbia and Kosovo on important for the European ognized by the United States that will not attack each other insisted that “the European
Tuesday resumed EU-bro- Union is that both leaders and most EU nations, Bel- and thus impact on peace and Union as well as the citizens
kered negotiations aimed confirmed that there is no grade has relied on support security in the region.” The of Kosovo and Serbia have
at resolving a long-lasting other way forward but to from Russia and China in its other side proposed only “old high expectations from the
dispute that remains a normalize relations between bid to retain claim on the ter- ideas,” he said. two leaders to overcome the
source of tensions in the Kosovo and Serbia.” ritory. legacy of the past and steer
volatile Balkans. “We expressed our readiness Kosovo and Serbia to their
Both countries have been Both Vucic and Kurti criti- for a constructive dialogue on common European future
But the meeting in Brus- told that they cannot hope cized each other’s positions reciprocal recognition,” Kurti by being able to normalize
sels between Serbia’s Presi- to move forward in their ef- in separate statements after wrote. relations between them in a
dent Aleksandar Vucic and forts to join the EU before Tuesday’s meeting. Vucic comprehensive way. ”
Kosovo’s new Prime Minis- resolving the decades-old rift said Kosovo “wanted to hear Since the start of the EU-
ter Albin Kurti appeared to that exploded in a conflict in when we will recognize in- brokered negotiations, del- European Commission Vice-
produce little progress in the 1998-99, leaving more than dependent Kosovo ... and I egations from Belgrade and President Josep Borrell ear-
negotiations that first started 10,000 people dead and trig- said never.” He complained Pristina have agreed on a lier urged leaders of the rival
in 2011 and have been stalled gering a NATO intervention. that Kosovo’s approach “had number of issues, tackling Balkan nations to “seize the
since last year. nothing to do with reality and everyday problems such as opportunity” of a “new mo-
responsibility.” free travel or trade. But they mentum” and move forward
“It was not an easy meeting, Kosovo, formerly a province remained far apart on Koso- in the negotiations that have
but it was important that it of Serbia, declared indepen- Kurti said on Facebook that vo’s independence. been stalled since last year.
happened,” said the EU’s dence in 2008 but Belgrade he has proposed a joint Koso-
special envoy for the talks, has refused to accept that. vo-Serbia peace statement in Lajcak said talks will con-