Israeli justice takes its time on the decision that fueled the weekend clashes. But Lapid’s negotiations to form a government without Netanyahu are being held back
Pope has spoken in the last few hours Francesco, the prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the one in charge Yair Lapid, the United Nations, the United States, the European Union, Russia, Egypt, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia and also the United Arab Emirates (the latter signatories of the Abrahamic Agreements). The issue will be at the heart of the Arab League meeting on Tuesday. The clashes in Jerusalem between Palestinians and Israeli security forces that have been going on since yesterday (at least 300 Palestinians and 20 injured Israeli officers) have sparked reactions from many parts of the world. In addition, a rocket was launched from Gaza in southern Israel, whose air force responded by hitting a Hamas military post in the Strip.
The protests arise from the wait for tomorrow’s hearing that could have resulted in the eviction of four Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah, a neighborhood in Jerusalem. Hearing that was canceled today by the Israeli Supreme Court. As the Times of Israel, the cancellation decision comes after the attorney general’s office Avichai Mandelblit he asked the Supreme Court for two weeks to look into the matter. The court gave Mandelblit until June 8 to do so. As a result, the planned evictions – already approved by lower courts – will not continue in the meantime.
The measure affects more than 70 Palestinians living in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood and could be forced to leave their homes to “right-wing” Israeli Jews, the Israeli daily explains. Palestinians live in houses built on land that, according to the judges, belonged to Jewish religious associations prior to the establishment of Israel in 1948. Palestinian families had appealed the decision to the Supreme Court of Israel, which had provided for a hearing for tomorrow, the day commemorating Jerusalem Day, which is the Israeli takeover of the city in 1967. The Palestinians argue that an Israeli law from 1970 – although not discriminatory on the surface – in practice only allows Jews to reclaim lost property in East Jerusalem.
For nearly 30 years, Palestinians living in Sheikh Jarrah have faced the risk of eviction by living on land bought by Jews in the late 19th century near the tomb of Simeon the Just, as he also explains. time. The legal battle is ongoing between Palestinian residents and a company called Nachalat Shimon, which is controlled by right-wing activists trying to bring Jews to the neighborhood.
The issue of the eviction of Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah has prompted the international community to express concern. Furthermore, linked to the postponement of the Palestinian elections, it has led to a new wave of tension in the holy city in recent days.
These are the first clashes since the president took office in the White House Joe Biden, whose administration is currently in contact with Israel and the Palestinians to restore the situation to tranquility.
If Washington looks at it with concern, Israeli politics too are likely to suffer setbacks after the clashes in Jerusalem. Indeed, this weekend’s progress to form a government with Lapid e Naftali Bennett could be nullified by what happened at the Temple Mount as they called into question the support of the national unity executive by Mansour Abbas, head of the Ra’am (United Arab List). His four seats are key to Lapid and his Yesh Atid formation to form an anti-Netanyahu government with right-wing pieces (Bennett’s Yamina parties, New Hope of Gideon Sa’ar and Yisrael Beytenu of Avigdor Lieberman), the Centrists of Blue and White, the Labor and Socialists of Meretz. And if after Netanyahu, even Lapid should fail, there may be only one solution: the return to the polls for the fifth elections in two and a half years