Israel tells Palestinians to combat violence, end incitement

By ICEJ News

08 Mar 2010

Israel has conveyed messages to the Palestinian Authority over the past few days that it must contain the recent riots in the West Bank, stop PA officials from participating in them, and keep them from turning violent, Palestinian sources told Ha'aretz. Israel also told the PA it must reduce incitement regarding the Temple Mount and Jerusalem and curtail its campaign against the use of Israeli products. If the PA does not cut down on the incitement and keep the riots and boycott campaign in check, Israel will reduce cooperation with the PA and increase its arrests in Palestinian-controlled areas. Over the past few months, the IDF has been limiting the entry of troops into PA areas to make arrests. The warnings come as PA economics minister Hassan Abu Libdeh announced on Sunday that he will soon move to block Palestinian construction workers from taking jobs to build houses and infrastructure in Jewish settlements in the West Bank. The announcement could affect as many as 30,000 Palestinian men who work in the settlements, often saying that there are no other jobs available in Palestinian governed areas. The law would also ban the Palestinian merchants from buying or selling goods produced in settlements, a trade estimated at between $200 and $500 million annually.

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