’Israel’ to Keep up Raids in Occupied Palestinian Lands

Local Editor

"Israeli" officials had announced a decision to press ahead with their incursions into the occupied West Bank areas under the Palestinian Authority's watch amid heightened tensions there.

The decision was made during a meeting between "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, War Minister Moshe Ya'alon and military chief of staff Gadi Eizenkot on Wednesday.

In a statement released following the meeting, the premier's office said the attendees made it clear that the Israeli military "maintains -- and will maintain -- the possibility of entering Area A, and anywhere necessary, according to operational needs."

Area A refers to approximately 18 percent of the besieged West Bank, which is officially under full Palestinian civil and security jurisdiction. However, "Israeli" apartheid forces had regularly stormed this region in violation of Palestinian sovereignty.

The development comes despite reported talks earlier this month between Palestinian and "Israeli" authorities over putting an end to near-daily "Israeli" raids in Area A.

"Israeli" troops routinely ransack and destroy the homes belonging to Palestinians who the Tel Aviv regime accuses of committing deadly anti-"Israeli" operation in the occupied territories.

Rights groups say the demolition of Palestinian homes is in line with the "Israeli" apartheid regime's policy of expanding its illegal settlements and land theft.

In late March, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas warned the "Israeli" entity of a "bloody" Palestinian Intifada [uprising] should the regime fail to stop its military operations in the areas administered by Palestinian officials.

Abbas further slammed Tel Aviv for constant violations of the Oslo Accords signed in 1993 and 1995 by storming Palestinian cities without restriction.

In another development early on Thursday, "Israeli" forces carried out raids on two metal workshops, a carpentry workshop, several stores and homes in the city of al-Eizariya and the town of Abu Dis in the occupied West Bank.

Palestinian Red Crescent medics said 16 Palestinians sustained injuries during the clashes, including four who were hit by rubber-coated steel bullets and 12 who suffered from tear gas suffocation.

"Israeli" regime forces also detained a young Palestinian at one of the workshops.

The occupied territories had been the scene of escalating tensions since August 2015, when the "Israeli" regime imposed restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East al-Quds [Jerusalem].

At least 210 Palestinians, including children and women, had lost their lives at the hands of "Israeli" forces in what is regarded as the third Palestinian Intifada since the beginning of last October.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team