The Arab League on Tuesday decried a fresh spate of Israeli airstrikes and arrests in the Palestinian territories carried out against the backdrop of search operations for three Jewish settlers that Israel claims were kidnapped in the occupied West Bank.
"Israel's continued arrest campaigns and leniency with settlers who vandalize [Muslim] religious sites in the Palestinian territories are the real reasons for the tension," Mohamed Sobeih, the Arab League's undersecretary for Palestinian affairs, told reporters on Tuesday.
"The Israeli government is entirely responsible for all attacks currently happening in the Palestinian territories," Sobeih added.
On Monday night, the Israeli army confirmed that the three settlers – who went missing on June 12 from a Jewish-only settlement in the southern West Bank – had been found dead near the city of Hebron.
Following the announcement, the Israeli army said it had struck 34 targets in the besieged Gaza Strip "in retaliation" for over 18 rockets fired into Israel from Gaza since Sunday.
Although no Palestinian group has claimed responsibility for the settlers' disappearance or death, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly accused Gaza-based Hamas of having abducted and murdered the trio – but without producing any evidence in support of his claims.
"Israel always seeks excuses for its crimes against the Palestinians, which are tantamount to war crimes," Sobeih said. "It always levels accusations without providing any evidence."
"If Israel does have evidence against Hamas, it should bring it before the United Nations," Sobeih said. "But they don't have any evidence; they should not be given any credibility."
The disappearance of the three settlers in mid-June had prompted Israel to launch a major search operation across the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
In the almost three weeks since, at least six Palestinians have been killed and over 500 arrested, including lawmakers, former cabinet ministers and Hamas members.
By Gomaa Moselhi
englishnews@aa.com.tr
www.aa.com.tr/en
