Israel now rules out West Bank handovers to the Palestinians, who are themselves divided between the internationally-backed administration of President Mahmoud Abbas and Islamists opposed to peacemaking. The Islamist militant Hamas said through its spokesman, Abdel-Latif Al-Qanoua, that Monday’s attack was a natural response to Israeli attacks. In parliament, Netanyahu said security forces were closing in on the gunman who had killed the Israeli brothers. Four extra army battalions and two border police companies were posted to the West Bank since Sunday as reinforcements, the Israeli military said. Palestinian attacks have killed 13 Israelis, one of them a policeman, and a Ukrainian tourist, Israel says.

Source: Ethiopian News February 27, 2023 01:23 UTC