Palestinian shot after allegedly threatening farmer in West Bank settlement

A Palestinian man was shot and wounded by a resident of the Geva Binyamin settlement in the West Bank on Saturday, after allegedly threatening the farmer with a stone. The farm's owners reported that the Palestinian trespassed onto their property and attempted to attack the resident when the farmer approached him. The resident, feeling threatened, fired his personal weapon, injuring the man.

The injured Palestinian was taken for medical treatment before authorities arrived. He is expected to be transferred to security forces for questioning. While unconfirmed reports suggest the attacker may have been suffering from a mental illness, police stated that the investigation into the incident is ongoing.

This event occurs amid rising tensions in the West Bank. The Israeli government is reportedly preparing to approve funding for 61 new settlements in the area, a plan promoted by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. This initiative includes allocating over $350 million and strategically placing settlements along key routes like Highway 90 in the Jordan Valley and in the South Hebron Hills, aiming to create territorial continuity between existing settlements. Additionally, the Higher Planning Council recently approved the development of 2,162 new housing units in West Bank settlements, a move Smotrich welcomed as "continuing to build the Land of Israel in practice."