Abbas to Putin: Israeli-occupied West Bank poised for ‘explosion’

Palestinian Authority head Mahmoud Abbas has told Russian President Vladimir Putin that Israeli raids and other acts of aggression have put the occupied West Bank on the brink of an “explosion.”

Abbas told the Russian president during a telephone conversation on Thursday that Israeli settlements, land confiscation, home demolitions and “settler terrorism” are becoming a casus belli for a new revolt in the West Bank, the official Wafa news agency reported.

“The continuation of these Israeli measures will lead to an explosion of the situation,” the Palestinian Authority head added.

He also rejected “economic and security steps” offered by Israeli leaders, saying they are not “a substitute for the political track.”

The Palestinian leadership will have to take “key decisions” at an important session of the Central Council of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) expected to be held in the coming months, he said without elaboration.

The remarks came following Abbas’ rare visit to the Israeli Occupied Lands on Tuesday for talks with Israeli minister of war  Benny Gantz that the Israelis said focused on “security and civil matters”.

Abbas said in the absence of a political track, the Israeli regime continues to stifle the Palestinian economy and deduct from tax revenues.

The Palestinian Authority president said Israel’s endless settlement expansion, its confiscation of Palestinian lands, and its demolition of Palestinian homes and “settler terrorism” are creating an undercurrent of rage and insurrection among the Palestinians.