Olmert: What’s happening in West Bank is ethnic cleansing

OCCUPIED PALESTINE, Feb. 08 (YPA) – Former Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert acknowledged that what is happening in the West Bank constitutes a violent and criminal attempt at ethnic cleansing, revealing the involvement of official institutions in covering up settler attacks against Palestinians.

In an article published in the Hebrew newspaper Haaretz, Olmert accused the occupation army, police, and Shin Bet security service of providing protection to extremist settlers who carry out attacks that include burning homes, olive groves, vehicles, and assaulting civilians.

He indicated that these groups operate with the inspiration and arming of the extremist National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, with the aim of forcing Palestinians to leave in preparation for imposing annexation, considering that what is happening is being carried out in full view of the occupation forces.

Olmert called on the international community to take action to stop the crimes against humanity committed against the Palestinians, stressing that the International Criminal Court has become the most likely body to prosecute those responsible after the Israeli judicial system failed to restrain the extremists.