Story perspectives

Israel Orders West Bank Closure Through Sukkot, Bars Workers

By Drooid · Sep 27, 2026, 1:59 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Katz Closes West Bank

Israel Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered a general West Bank closure.
The closure begins Sunday and will last through the Sukkot holiday week.
Palestinian workers are barred from entering Israeli West Bank settlements for employment.
Essential workers may still enter West Bank industrial zones under IDF Central Command rules.
Nursing association warned that barring about 940 caregivers could leave thousands of elderly patients uncared for.

Summary

Smotrich Calls War

Foreign Minister Ed Miliband announced a ban on settlement imports, prompting Israel to close its Jerusalem consulate.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged the IDF to go to war in Judea and Samaria, mirroring Gaza.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the settlement surge threatens ethnic cleansing and a two-state solution.
Polls show Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition holds 49-54 Knesset seats, making the Oct 27 election a referendum on policies.

History

Historical Context

The 1993 Oslo I Accord, signed in September 1993, established limited Palestinian self-rule and envisioned phased Israeli withdrawal. Under the accord, the Palestinian Authority received $2.5 billion in aid, overseen by the United Nations, the United States and Norway. Today, Defense Minister Israel Katz’s West Bank closure and Foreign Minister Ed Miliband’s settlement-import ban echo Oslo’s contested implementation, while Netanyahu’s 49-54-seat coalition pushes expansion. The failure to fully honor Oslo’s phased withdrawal fuels renewed tensions, risking further closures, international sanctions, and undermining the two-state solution.

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Katz Closes West Bank

Israel Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered a general West Bank closure.
The closure begins Sunday and will last through the Sukkot holiday week.
Palestinian workers are barred from entering Israeli West Bank settlements for employment.
Essential workers may still enter West Bank industrial zones under IDF Central Command rules.
Nursing association warned that barring about 940 caregivers could leave thousands of elderly patients uncared for.

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