Global Newspapers: Settler Violence Is Not Isolated Incidents.. and Netanyahu Invests $100 Billion in Weapons

Developments in the Palestinian and Israeli affairs topped the headlines of major global newspapers, in addition to files casting shadows over the Old Continent, which faces a new reality after the Russian war on Ukraine.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz painted a bleak picture of what is happening in the occupied West Bank, considering that settler violence is no longer isolated incidents, but a tool exploited to impose new facts on the ground amid international indifference.

The newspaper pointed out in its analysis that the immunity enjoyed by armed settlers sends a clear message to Palestinians, meaning that "no one will protect them," in the context of a continuous policy aimed at changing the daily reality.

It added that the official talk about "temporary waves" of violence has lost its meaning, confirming that any existing deterrent is applied only to Palestinians.

The Guardian newspaper shed light on the arrest by Israeli police of a Palestinian dressed as "Santa Claus" and others during a raid on a Christmas party in Haifa and the closure of the event.

The newspaper linked this incident to a broader reality, as Christians in Palestine celebrate Christmas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip amid ongoing Israeli restrictions on their daily lives.

It said that the celebrations were held for the first time in Bethlehem since the start of the war on Gaza, while a small Christian community in the sector, devastated by the war, celebrated its first Christmas since the start of the ceasefire.

For its part, The Times of Israel newspaper addressed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement of investing more than $100 billion in local arms production, aiming to build an independent ammunition industry over the next decade and reduce dependence on the outside.

The newspaper noted that this direction coincides with escalating European criticism and pressures, including calls for an arms embargo due to Israel's conduct in Gaza.

In another file, the Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta addressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's announcement of an updated version of the American peace plan, considering it an unexpected turning point in the course of the conflict with Russia, but characterized by a great deal of ambiguity, and does not provide a clear vision for a comprehensive settlement.

For its part, the French newspaper Le Monde called, through an opinion piece by several political and intellectual figures, for building a more united and independent Europe, affirming that reliance on a fickle American will is no longer a guarantee for the continent's security and prosperity.

As for The Washington Post, it pointed to a sharp decline in the charitable donation campaign for US federal government employees by more than 40%, amid government agencies' downsizing, prolonged closures, and delays in organizing the annual campaign.