Israel to close West Bank crossings on election day as crackdown escalates

What the report says

Israel’s military says it will close all West Bank land crossings on Tuesday, the day of Israel’s election, and bar Palestinian workers from entering settlements. The restrictions, announced by the Israel Defense Forces, also include limits on movement for workers across the West Bank, including the Jordan Valley and industrial zones, with some curbs beginning on Sunday. BBC World News reports that the measures come as Israeli forces intensify operations in the occupied territory after two Israeli soldiers were killed in a shooting attack at a checkpoint last week.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered a major security response, and the BBC says Israeli forces have been demolishing homes and businesses in Hebron, displacing residents and tightening an existing cordon around the city. Israeli officials have linked the crackdown to security concerns, while local Palestinian officials and rights groups have described some of the demolitions and restrictions as collective punishment. The BBC also notes that before the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, more than 100,000 Palestinian workers could enter Israel, but only a small fraction have had permits restored since then.

The timing of the measures has political significance because they come just days before the vote. Hebron’s mayor said the operation was being driven by election politics, while Netanyahu separately warned of a “very big surprise” for the Palestinian Authority in a television interview. The story also comes amid domestic unrest in Israel, including a large anti-government protest in Tel Aviv organized by families of victims and hostages from the 2023 attack.