US, "Israel" concerned about events in West Bank, fear escalation

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli Media
3 Sep 2022 23:08
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Israeli media cite a source as saying that the US fears that the continuity of this dynamic in the West Bank would lead to a security deterioration.

The US is concerned about a possible escalation in the West Bank

Israeli media cited a source acquainted with discussions between senior Israeli officials and Barbara Leaf, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, as saying that the Americans are highly concerned about what is going on in the West Bank and fear an escalation.

The source said that Leaf expressed her concern about a possible escalation in the West Bank, adding that the continuity of this dynamic in this region would lead to a security deterioration.

Similarly, Hezi Simantov, a commentator for Arab affairs on Channel 13, considered that the circulated images that show Hamas Resistance fighters training and conducting military exercises in Jenin reflect the organization of factions in Jenin and Nablus.

In the same context, Israeli military commentator Or Heller considered in a report that the Israeli occupation forces and the Shin Bet are in a state of confusion.

Heller wondered about the situation in the West Bank after the summer of 2022 and before the holidays, especially the New Year.

He asked: "Is what we are seeing the beginning of a new escalation?", adding that some will consider it the beginning of the third Palestinian Intifada.

The Israeli commentator considered that the West Bank is witnessing "a new-old era", where every arrest operation carried out by the Israeli occupation forces ends with an armed confrontation.

Arrests in the West Bank have become complicated

It is noteworthy that Arab affairs commentator Noam Benat had told the Israeli Channel 13, that the Israeli security establishment is aware that "the process of arresting armed men which includes a clash and gunfire exchange has turned into a routine matter, and any arrest operation against wanted individuals will end with the same scenes we saw of the bombing of a house in Nablus in which wanted Palestinian men were barricaded."

He added that "The northern West Bank is an arena of defiance.

Israeli media had pointed out that the arrests in the West Bank, which until recently have been simple, "have become very complicated," adding that "the large media coverage that accompanies them makes the matter difficult for Israel."

Palestinian affairs correspondent on Channel 12, Ohad Hammo, said, "Hamas and Islamic Jihad are giving an important role to Nablus. The center of the confrontations, which was in Jenin in recent months, has moved to Nablus, and we have been seeing this in recent weeks."

The Israeli commentator pointed out that "what distinguishes the recent nights is that the arrests which have been until recently, simple, have become very complicated. Palestinian forces prefer now to fight and shoot."

He continued, "The narrative of the Palestinian side is also an important factor. We often hear that the young men in Nablus, for example, fought until the last bullet and until their ammunition ran out."

The Israeli commentator considered that what was mentioned was "a double danger, first at the tactical level, as a process like this could get complicated. Secondly, at the strategic level, that could somewhat indicate that things are going in a bad direction in the West Bank."