Settlement outpost established on Jericho border after secret house purchase

Dozens of settlers moved into eight homes on the border of Jericho after secretly coordinating the purchase with the Binyamin Regional Council. The homes are meters from Palestinian Authority-controlled Area A but in Area C under Israeli control. Peace Now reported unverified violence, and the PA's WAFA said settlers attacked Palestinians, wounding three. The IDF confirmed entry was without permission.

Dozens of settlers moved into eight homes on the border of Jericho, in the village of Ein Diouk al-Tahta, on Wednesday after secretly coordinating their purchase with the Binyamin Regional Council, the Nachala Movement announced. The homes are located just meters from the Palestinian Authority-controlled city, which lies in Area A of the West Bank, but are technically in Area C, which is under Israeli control. Peace Now alleged that around 30 settlers arrived at noon to take control of the homes and noted unverified reports of violence, adding that the new settlement poses security challenges for Palestinian residents. On Thursday morning, the Palestinian Authority's WAFA news agency reported that settlers attacked Palestinians in Deir al-Dik al-Tahta, wounding three people with pepper spray and beatings. Nachala rejected the characterization of seizure, maintaining it legally purchased the properties, though Palestinian law treats selling land to Israeli Jews as treason. Daniella Weiss, founder of Nachala, said the move marks the end of the Oslo Accords, and Settlement Minister Orit Strock called it repairing the damage caused by Oslo. The IDF confirmed that entry into the homes was done without prior coordination with the military and without permission.