Israeli cabinet freezes 1200 Palestinian work permits

A report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on the occupied Palestinian territories revealed that the Israeli Security Cabinet has decided to freeze 1,200 permits previously issued to Palestinian laborers from the Hebron governorate to access Israel and East Jerusalem for work, for an indefinite period of time. 

Access of Palestinian workers to their places of work in Israeli settlements in the Gush Etzion area (Bethlehem) has been also banned. These measures are expected to severely impact the income level and livelihoods of affected families, the report said.

The weekly report, which covered the period from November 17 till November 23, also said Israeli forces carried out 79 search and arrest operations across the West Bank. The largest operation took place in Beit Awwa, Deir Samit and Tarusa villages (Hebron), where over 150 houses were searched and 53 people arrested; three affected families reported damage to their property or theft. 

Two additional raids, which involved also Israeli settlers, took place at Al Lubban ash Sharqiya girls school and Burin boys school (both in the Nablus governorate), severely disrupting classes.

In Hebron city, Israeli forces raided a radio station, confiscated equipment and closed it down by military order for a period of six months, according to the report.

Source: MENA