Palestinian PM Warns Against Turning Ukrainian Refugees Into New Settlers

Israeli soldiers fire tear gas at Palestinian demonstrators against settlements Dajan near Nablus (EPA)
Israeli soldiers fire tear gas at Palestinian demonstrators against settlements Dajan near Nablus (EPA)
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Palestinian PM Warns Against Turning Ukrainian Refugees Into New Settlers

Israeli soldiers fire tear gas at Palestinian demonstrators against settlements Dajan near Nablus (EPA)
Israeli soldiers fire tear gas at Palestinian demonstrators against settlements Dajan near Nablus (EPA)

Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh warned against promoting Israeli settlements in the West Bank with Ukrainian Jews.

Speaking at the weekly cabinet meeting, Shtayyeh said Israel exploited the Ukraine crisis to transfer Ukrainian refugees into new settlers in Palestine.

Shtayyeh was commenting on reports about the arrival of Ukrainians to settlements in the West Bank.

In the past few weeks, Ukrainian families who fled the war have resided in settlements in the West Bank, including Yitzhar, a stronghold for extremists who usually attack Palestinians and their property.

Since the beginning of the Ukraine war, Israel welcomed refugees, and the head of the Regional Council of Settlements in the northern West Bank, Yossi Dagan, said that the council "opens doors and hearts for Ukrainian Jews."

Shtayyeh called for ending international double standards in dealing with the situation in Ukraine and Palestine.

He said: "Israel, the power occupying our land, stealing our capabilities, killing, arresting and intimidating our people, is not qualified to talk about peace in the world while it occupies our land by force."

The PM touched on other Israeli violations on Palestinian land and strongly criticized Israeli restrictions on Palestinian travel.

In 2021, Israeli forces banned over 10,000 Palestinians from traveling under arbitrary measures, which Shtayyeh condemned, saying it is a "collective punishment" pursued by the Israeli authorities against Palestinians.

He urged the international community to help end Israeli violations, calling on the EU and the UN to intervene to stop the conditions imposed on the entry of international scholars to Palestinian universities.

Shtayyeh welcomed the US State Department's support for the two-state solution and the US administration's decision to allocate new aid to the Palestinian people.

He stressed that the political track is the base, noting that economic peace without a political cover will yield results and solve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, stressing that US statements need to be linked with actions.

The premier also addressed the elections, saying that Palestinians will elect on Mar 26 their municipal councils in a crucial democratic event that reflects the voters' aim to exercise their rights.

He asserted the government's support to Palestinian prisoners in their protest against the Israeli Prison Service, saying: "We fully support them to achieve their just demands, and we hold the occupation government fully responsible for any escalation against them."

Addressing the issue of Jericho, Shtayyeh affirmed that the government was following up on the recent attacks and citizens' lands and formed a special committee headed by the Minister of Interior and the competent authorities.

He asserted that no one is above the law.

Shtayyeh was implicitly responding to statements of member of Fatah Central Committee Major General Tawfiq al-Tirawi who strongly criticized the PM for meeting several businessmen allegedly accused of seizing thousands of dunams of the land with false allegations and illegal documents.

Shtayyeh had vowed to take all necessary measures to facilitate investment in Jericho through a specialized ministerial committee.

Tirawi responded, saying he had informed Shtayyeh and President Mahmoud Abbas of the corrupt business of some of these people.

He recalled that the President asked the PM to form an inquiry committee, which the latter disregarded.

He urged Shtayyeh to stop honoring the corrupt, noting, "you do not represent me, and you do not represent (Fatah) in the government.



Israeli Raid in Syria’s Masyaf Targeted Iranian Missile Manufacturing Facility

Israeli raid on Masyaf
Israeli raid on Masyaf
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Israeli Raid in Syria’s Masyaf Targeted Iranian Missile Manufacturing Facility

Israeli raid on Masyaf
Israeli raid on Masyaf

The Iranian embassy in Damascus on Friday denied that its advisors stationed in Syria were targeted during Israel's September 9 raid in the city of Masyaf in Syria's central province of Hama, saying the Israeli allegations were lies.

“After 11 months of failing to achieve its goals in the Gaza war, the Zionist regime has reached a level of disappointment that it sees no way to save itself, but to kill the children and spread lies,” the embassy said.

The mission’s statement came days after Israel raided the Scientific Research Center and several military sites in Masyaf. Syria’s official news agency, SANA, said 18 people were killed in the operation and 37 others were wounded, including six people in critical condition.

But media reports said the Israeli raids destroyed a secret Hezbollah missile production facility near the Lebanese border.

Israel Briefed US

The Axios website quoted on Friday two sources as saying Israel briefed the Biden administration in advance of the sensitive operation and the US didn't oppose it. The White House didn't respond to a request for comment.

Also, two sources with direct knowledge told Axios the Iranians began building the underground facility in coordination with Hezbollah and Syria in 2018 because it would be impenetrable to Israeli air strikes.

Local residents said a state of tension prevails in the region where people feel they are “victims of battles they have nothing to do with.”

The residents recorded the sound of helicopters flying over Masyaf that night for more than an hour, without being intercepted by the forces deployed in the area.

Local media outlets on Friday broadcasted images of young volunteers from the area who said they were removing rubble from sites hit by the Israeli attack, one of the most lethal in Syria in recent months.

SOHR Version

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights quoted on Friday seven reliable sources, including civilians and combatants who confronted the Israeli raid, as saying that the accurate and compound operation in Masyaf targeted the “Heer Abbas” site which houses a factory for manufacturing and developing medium-range missiles.

The factory had been constructed and supervised by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, it said.

Before commandoes descended, Israeli forces carried out a series of intensive airstrikes, targeting vital sites in the region.

“Nearly five helicopters participated in the airdrop, where they flew at low altitude. A helicopter heading the squadron was equipped with a strong projector,” the Observatory said.

Several drones and fighter jets participated in the operation, according to SOHR. It said regime air-defenses managed to shoot down a drone in Banyas on the Syrian coastline.

Shortly before the airdrop, the Observatory said Israeli forces launched intensive airstrikes against vital sites in the region. The forces used electronic warfare jamming systems which facilitated the airdrop of around 100 Israeli special forces.

Later, the Israeli soldiers who participated in the airdrop clashed for over three hours with local forces and civilians. Residents in surrounding areas clearly heard the gunfire.

SOHR said the Israeli soldiers managed to destroy the factory. The sources could not verify if the Israeli forces took important and secret documents from the “Heer Abbas” site. However, the sources confirmed that no Iranian-backed militias were captured during the Israeli operation.

27 People Killed

According to SOHR sources, the Israeli raid left 27 people dead and at least 32 others injured. Some of the bodies were dismembered, while others were charred, it said.