ShareRAMMUN/TEL AVIV: Palestinian foreign ministry on Sunday condemned as an "execution" the killing of a Palestinian man by Zionist entity forces at a checkpoint in the occupied West Bank. The ministry slammed the "heinous execution" of Ahmad Kahla, 45, who was shot dead by troops near the village of Silwad north of Ramallah. The Zionist entity's military did not immediately respond to requests by AFP to comment on the incident.
The man's son, Qusai Kahla, told AFP he was in the car with his father when they were stopped at the checkpoint. "Soldiers came and they sprayed pepper spray on my face and pulled me out of the car," the 18-year-old said at the family home in Rammun village. "I don't know what happened after that," he said. "I found out from my uncle that my dad was killed."
The official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported soldiers shot Kahla at "point blank" range after forcing him out of his vehicle. He died from a gunshot wound to the neck, the Palestinian health ministry said.
Kahla's death brings up to 13 the number of Palestinians killed in the territory so far this month, the majority shot by Zionist entity forces, according to an AFP tally. The Palestinian foreign ministry said the Zionist entity's leadership has made it "easy for soldiers to kill any Palestinian without them posing any danger to the occupation soldiers".
The Zionist entity's most right-wing government in history was sworn in last month, including ministers known for their anti-Palestinian remarks who have taken over key powers in the West Bank. The rising toll this month follows the deadliest year in the West Bank since United Nations records began in 2005.
'Government of shame'
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people protested in central Tel Aviv Saturday against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new hard-right government of the Zionist entity. Protesters braved the rain for the rally, brandishing signs with slogans decrying a "government of shame" and urging: "bring down the dictator", AFP correspondents said.
Media reported 80,000 people joined the rally, citing police sources. Police gave no official estimate after reporting 20,000 protesters earlier in the evening. The demonstration is the biggest since Netanyahu's new government took power in late December. "The situation is worrying and scary," said 22-year-old protester Aya Tal, who works in the high-tech industry. "They want to take away our rights... We must unite."
Other rallies were held in Jerusalem, outside the prime minister's and the president's residences, and in the northern city of Haifa, local media reported. Already the Zionist entity's longest-serving premier, Netanyahu returned to power at the head of a coalition with extreme-right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties, some of whose officials now head key ministries.
Protesters called for Netanyahu, who is fighting corruption charges in court, to resign. "Bibi (Netanyahu) doesn't want a democracy, we don't need fascists in the Knesset," read one sign at the Tel Aviv protest.
'Save democracy'
The crowd filled the streets surrounding Tel Aviv's Habima Square and chanted "democracy, democracy", according to an AFP correspondent. Opposition parties had called on the public to join the demonstration-organized by an anti-corruption group-to "save democracy" and in protest at a planned judicial overhaul.
Justice Minister Yariv Levin announced on January 4 a controversial plan to hand more powers to lawmakers in appointing judges and overriding Supreme Court decisions. In the Zionist entity, which does not have a constitution, the Supreme Court currently has the authority to repeal laws it considers discriminatory.
The new government has also announced intentions to pursue a policy of settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. The rally included messages against the Zionist entity's occupation of the Palestinian territories. "There's no democracy with the occupation," read one sign.
'Fight'
Netanyahu is the Zionist entity's first sitting prime minister indicted while in office. He denies the charges against him of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. The leader of right-wing party Likud was ousted from office in 2021 after a record 12-year run by a motley coalition of parties, elected on the heels of anti-corruption protests that called for Netanyahu's resignation.
His return to power ended an unprecedented period of political gridlock that forced five elections in less than four years and deepened social divisions. The leader of center-left opposition party Labor, Merav Michaeli, was among several politicians at the Tel Aviv rally, as was former foreign minister Tzipi Livni.
Former defense minister Benny Gantz, now in the opposition, shared on Twitter a video of himself at the demonstration. "We'll fight in the Knesset, we'll fight in the media, we'll fight on the streets", Gantz told protesters. - AFP
