Page 7 - aruba-today-20220531

A7
WORLD NEWS Tuesday 31 May 2022
Israeli PM defends march marked by violence, racism

By JOSEPH KRAUSS with one of Israel's most
Associated Press popular soccer teams,
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli while the latter is linked to
Prime Minister Naftali Ben- the late Rabbi Meir Kah-
nett on Monday defended ane, who peached a vio-
the decision to hold an an- lent, anti-Arab ideology.
nual march that celebrates But right-wing views are far
Israel's takeover of east Je- more widespread in Israeli
rusalem and was marked society. A strong majority
by violence and anti-Pales- of seats in Israel's Knesset,
tinian racism. or parliament, are held by
Authorities called up thou- right-wing parties that sup-
sands of police, forcibly port Jewish settlement in
cleared out Palestinians the occupied territories
and risked another war with and are opposed to Pales-
the Islamic militant group tinian statehood, including
Hamas to ensure that tens one led by a disciple of Ka-
of thousands of mostly hane.
right-wing Israelis could Right-wing factions are split
parade through a dense over whether former Prime
Palestinian neighborhood Minister Benjamin Netanya-
and hundreds could visit a hu should return to office,
bitterly contested holy site. and some, including Ben-
Israel had changed the Members of Israeli security forces detain a Palestinian protester near Damascus Gate outside nett's Yamina, partnered
Jerusalem's Old City as Israelis mark Jerusalem Day, an Israeli holiday celebrating the capture of
route at the last minute the Old City during the 1967 Mideast war. Sunday, May 29, 2022. with centrist and left-wing
during last year's march, Associated Press parties last year to form a
at a time of soaring ten- governing coalition and
sions over violence at the nationalists chant racist slo- The vast majority of those Bennett praised the march- avoid more elections.
holy site and attempts by gans, including "Death to arrested appear to have ers, saying that "except for But the nationalist parties in
settlers to remove dozens Arabs," and attack Palestin- been Palestinians, though an extremist group, whom the coalition have gotten
of Palestinian families from ians and journalists. Fights police refused to provide a we will deal with to the full- their way when it comes
their homes in east Jerusa- broke out along the route, breakdown. est extent of the law, those to settlement expansion,
lem. as police mainly intervened Bennett praised the police's who celebrated yesterday acceptance of settler out-
Hamas still fired rockets, to protect Jews and forc- handling of the event and did so in a very special, posts and barring Israelis
and an 11-day Gaza war ibly disperse Palestinians. said Israel was obliged to heart-lifting way." from extending citizenship
ensued. The Palestinian Red Cres- hold the march in the face Defense Minister Benny or even residency to Pales-
Israel avoided that sce- cent rescue service said 62 of threats by Hamas. Gantz said Israel would tinian spouses.
nario this year and allowed Palestinians were wound- "If we hadn't done it along consider designating two Bennett himself is opposed
the parade to take its tra- ed, including 23 who need- the regular route, we would far-right groups, La Familia to Palestinian statehood,
ditional route through the ed hospitalization. Israeli – in effect – never go back and Lehava, as terrorist or- but his government has
heart of the Muslim Quarter police said they arrested to it," he said. "This could ganizations. approved some steps to
of the Old City. over 60 suspects and that have been a retreat on The former is the notoriously improve economic condi-
But the march saw Israeli five officers were wounded. sovereignty." racist fan club associated tions for Palestinians.q

Death toll from Brazil floods at least 91, with dozens lost

By DAVID BILLER He also noted the country available to cities afflicted
Associated Press has recently experienced by such disasters.
Authorities in northeastern similar disasters in the moun- Experts say climate change
Brazil's Pernambuco state tains above Rio de Janeiro, contributes to more intense
said Monday that 91 deaths in southern Bahia state and rainfall, and the Intergov-
have been confirmed from in Minas Gerais state. ernmental Panel on Cli-
flooding over the week- "Unfortunately, these ca- mate Change has classi-
end, with more two dozen tastrophes happen in a fied Recife's metropolitan
people still missing. continent-sized country," region as one of the world's
Hundreds of state and fed- he said. "We're all obviously most vulnerable cities. The
eral rescue workers were sad. We express our sympa- low-lying metro region is set
searching for 26 people thy to family members. Our at the delta of three rivers,
currently unaccounted for, bigger objective is to com- features floodplains and a
according to the official fort families and also, with network of dozens of ca-
statement. material means, attend to nals and is home to some 4
Brazil's President Jair Bolso- the population." million people. Firefighters carry a body recovered from a landslide triggered
naro on Monday flew over The government is moving In March, Recife became by heavy rain in the Jardim Monte Verde neighborhood of Rec-
the affected area of Per- to make funds available the first Latin American city ife in Pernambuco state, Brazil, Sunday, May 29, 2022.
nambuco's capital, Recife, to municipalities that have to sign on for participation Associated Press
and neighboring Jaboatao declared a state of emer- in a program to that will
dos Guararapes. Speaking gency, Daniel Ferreira, the create insurance against velopment bank KfW. their homes, and has rein-
to reporters afterward, he minister of regional devel- climate disasters created The state's civil defense au- forced its alert about still-
said that landing in the heli- opment, said at the press by a network of local and thority said in a statement high risk of landslides. Rain
copter wasn't possible due conference. He also high- regional governments and that the flooding has dis- has continued, albeit with
to the soaked soil. lighted a new credit line financed by German de- placed 5,000 people from less intensity.q