Olmert: Settler crimes aim to displace Palestinians and empty their lands

The article quotes former occupation Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who accused settlers in the West Bank of committing organized crimes aimed at displacing Palestinians, describing this as "ethnic cleansing." Olmert criticized official levels in the government, military, and police for providing support to the attackers, and announced his support for recent British sanctions against settlements.

The article quotes former occupation Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who accused settlers in the West Bank of committing organized crimes including murder, arson, vandalism, and seizure of Palestinian property, with the aim of forcing them to leave their lands and homes. Olmert described what is happening as an ongoing attempt at "ethnic cleansing." Olmert, in statements reported by Israeli media, accused settler groups of carrying out organized attacks, criticizing official levels in the government, military, and police for providing support or protection to the attackers and not taking sufficient measures to stop these crimes. Olmert announced his support for recent British sanctions against settlements, considering them "inevitable" given the continued attacks and settlement expansion. The sanctions include a ban on importing goods produced in West Bank settlements and expanding sanctions to include entities that finance or facilitate settlement construction. The statements come amid escalating settler attacks, land confiscation, and displacement of Palestinians, along with settlement expansion plans in the E1 area east of Jerusalem.