Four international activists, including three Italians (two women and one man), were injured today in an attack by Israeli settlers in the community of Ein al-Duyuk, near Jericho, in the West Bank . The fourth injured person is Canadian.

According to reports, settlers broke into the house where the activists were staying. There were about ten Israelis, all masked. They broke in at dawn, beat them, and stole personal belongings , including passports and cell phones.

The four injured were taken to Jericho hospital for treatment. The three Italians are not in serious condition, despite the shock of the incident: two girls suffered minor injuries, while the third will be laid up for three days . The activists were assisted by the mayor of Jericho and the Palestinian police, to whom they reported the incident.

Tajani condemned the incident, calling on the Israeli government to stop the settlers' violence. The injured activists, the Foreign Minister explained, are "young aid workers who accompany Palestinian activities, accompany children to school, farmers, or shepherds, as if providing a sort of civil defense for the population."

"They're returning to Ramallah," he added. "There's no direct information because they don't have phones. As soon as we have direct news, it'll always be triangulated. Their conditions, at least from the information we have, aren't worrying. They were beaten up, but I don't think they're seriously injured. We're waiting to see when they get to Ramallah. We'll know more this afternoon, but it's important that the incident is over and they're returning to a safer and more protected place."

NETANYAHU ASKS FOR MERCY

Meanwhile, on the Israeli domestic front, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on trial for corruption, has submitted a formal request for a pardon to President Isaac Herzog. "I will examine it responsibly," Herzog said .

Netanyahu has been on trial since 2020 on charges of corruption, fraud, and breach of trust in three separate cases. The president can grant pardons after conviction and, only in very rare cases of national interest, even during the proceedings. In any case, this is always at the request of the person concerned or a close family member.

The prime minister explained his request as follows: "I ask that you consider granting me a pardon in order to allow me to continue to work entirely for the good of the State of Israel , without the ongoing judicial process continuing to divide the people and influence government decisions. The judicial proceedings against me further contribute to these fractures, while there is a need for national reconciliation among all citizens."

(Unioneonline)

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