Israeli soldiers are seen on a street in the town of Hawara, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, on March 1, 2023. A senior Palestinian official on Wednesday condemned an Israeli minister's calls to "erase" the town of Hawara, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, which was subjected to an assault by Israeli settlers two days ago.
The call by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to erase the town from existence is "racist terrorism," said Hussein Al-Sheikh, secretary-general of the executive committee of Palestine Liberation Organization, in a press statement.(Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
RAMALLAH, March 1 (Xinhua) -- A senior Palestinian official on Wednesday condemned an Israeli minister's calls to "erase" the town of Hawara, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, which was subjected to an assault by Israeli settlers two days ago.
The call by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to erase the town from existence is "racist terrorism," said Hussein Al-Sheikh, secretary-general of the executive committee of Palestine Liberation Organization, in a press statement.
"The call requires the intervention of international human rights organizations to bring him to court on charges of calling for massacres against the Palestinian people," Al-Sheikh said.
On Sunday night, the villages and towns south of Nablus, mainly Hawara, were subjected to about 300 attacks by Israeli settlers, including burning homes and vehicles and smashing windows. The attacks resulted in one Palestinian death, with roughly 400 hundred people injured.
Israel Radio reported that the Israeli police arrested six Israeli settlers suspected of involvement in riots, arson and destruction of property in Hawara, adding that the detainees include four adults and two minors.
"Hawara must be erased, and I believe that the State of Israel should do that, not the settlers," said Smotrich in a speech on Wednesday during a conference organized by the Israeli daily business newspaper The Marker.
Smotrich's comments were harshly condemned by U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price on Wednesday, who described the remarks as "repugnant" and "irresponsible," according to a CNN report.
Price also called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "and other senior Israeli officials to publicly reject and disavow these comments," said the report.
"It's not enough," the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said in a press statement, adding that "an investigation must be opened against him (Smotrich), and he must be imprisoned, where he should be, like many others."
In Gaza, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said that Smotrich's remarks are "dangerous incitements to commit more massacres against the Palestinians, with official Israeli government cover."
Cities, villages, and refugee camps in the West Bank witnessed constant tension between the Palestinian and Israeli sides, while frictions often turned into confrontations and acts of violence.
The tensions have escalated between Israel and the Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since early January. Official Palestinian figures showed that 65 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli soldiers so far this year, while Israeli data put the death toll of Israelis killed by Palestinians at 13. ■
People gather in front of a house damaged by Israeli settlers in the town of Hawara, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, on March 1, 2023. A senior Palestinian official on Wednesday condemned an Israeli minister's calls to "erase" the town of Hawara, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, which was subjected to an assault by Israeli settlers two days ago.
The call by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to erase the town from existence is "racist terrorism," said Hussein Al-Sheikh, secretary-general of the executive committee of Palestine Liberation Organization, in a press statement.(Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
Protesters clash with Israeli security forces at the entrance to the town of Hawara, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, on March 3, 2023. A senior Palestinian official on Wednesday condemned an Israeli minister's calls to "erase" the town of Hawara, which was subjected to an assault by Israeli settlers two days ago. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
Protesters clash with Israeli security forces at the entrance to the town of Hawara, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, on March 3, 2023. A senior Palestinian official on Wednesday condemned an Israeli minister's calls to "erase" the town of Hawara, which was subjected to an assault by Israeli settlers two days ago. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
Protesters clash with Israeli security forces at the entrance to the town of Hawara, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, on March 3, 2023. A senior Palestinian official on Wednesday condemned an Israeli minister's calls to "erase" the town of Hawara, which was subjected to an assault by Israeli settlers two days ago. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
Israeli security forces detain a protester at the entrance to the town of Hawara, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, on March 3, 2023. A senior Palestinian official on Wednesday condemned an Israeli minister's calls to "erase" the town of Hawara, which was subjected to an assault by Israeli settlers two days ago. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
Israeli security forces detain a protester at the entrance to the town of Hawara, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, on March 3, 2023. A senior Palestinian official on Wednesday condemned an Israeli minister's calls to "erase" the town of Hawara, which was subjected to an assault by Israeli settlers two days ago. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
Protesters clash with Israeli security forces at the entrance to the town of Hawara, south of the northern West Bank city of Nablus, on March 3, 2023. A senior Palestinian official on Wednesday condemned an Israeli minister's calls to "erase" the town of Hawara, which was subjected to an assault by Israeli settlers two days ago. (Photo by Ayman Nobani/Xinhua)
