Saeb Erekat: World Must Condemn Israel’s Official Israeli incitement to Violence Against Palestinians

Chief Palestinian Negotiator, Dr. Saeb Erekat, condemned Israel’s publication of a book that considers the occupied West Bank part of Israel and incites to violence against Palestinians by instructing Israelis to carry weapons inside the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Dr. Erekat said, “The Israeli Ministry of Defense is telling its citizens to carry weapons when trailing in the occupied West Bank near Palestinian villages”, adding,“This is an outrageous case of incitement to violence against Palestinians that reflects Israel’s official policy and mindset. It should be of grave concern to the international community”, said Dr. Erekat.

“By issuing a book on trails in Israel that includes at least 50 sites in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the Israeli Defense Ministry exposes the true agenda of this government; nothing but abject disregard to international law, and the international consensus on the two-state solution”, the Chief Negotiator added.

The book also falsifies the names of Palestinian villages and areas by giving them Israeli names. “The government of Israel, which issued this book, willfully falsified the identity of Palestinian sites. This is both objectionable and unacceptable”, said Dr. Erekat, adding, “Israel is intent on taking over the entire Palestinian Territory rather than reaching a comprehensive and just agreement to the conflict based on the two-state solution. Actions are much louder than rhetoric and Israel has shown the international community, through action, just how hostile its policies are to the prospects of peace”. 

According to reports, the book in question recommends several dozen sites in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including one near the illegal settlement of Migron, as trail sites in Israel. In the book the Israeli Ministry recommends, “It is suggested to bring a weapon, as the trail is located near [a Palestinian village] …. or near a Bedouin encampment”. The Israeli Ministry of Defense issued this book as a 'gift’ to the families of 23,000 Israeli soldiers, killed since 1948.