Palestine - May 2023

There were violent clashes between Israeli settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank, driven by the Israeli government’s pro-settler agenda. These attacks involved various forms of violence, including physical assaults, property damage, and raids on Palestinian homes and villages. The situation was further aggravated by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir’s second ‘provocative’ visit to Temple Mount on 21 May, accompanied by inflammatory rhetoric. International actors including the US government have raised concerns about the relocation of Israeli settlers to an illegal outpost at Homesh, recently approved by the Israeli government. Moreover, Israel's publication of tenders for new settlement units in the West Bank on 29 May has also drawn international condemnation amid concerns about the prospects for a two-state solution. The documented incidents underscore the persistent challenges in the occupied territories, exacerbating insecurity and violating the rights of Palestinians, with 490 attacks perpetrated by Israeli settlers against Palestinians during May.

*Since the impact of these events are felt primarily in Palestine, they are coded in the entries for the latter. While they are not coded for Israel, it is Israeli action that causes the effects on democracy in Palestine.

Sources: Middle East Monitor (1), Al Jazeera (1), Al Monitor, Associated Press, Times of Israel, European Union, Al Jazeera (2), Middle East Monitor (2)