Israel brands Palestinian waste burning a security threat in West Bank

Israeli authorities have designated Palestinian waste incineration in the occupied West Bank as a national security issue following an emergency meeting held on Thursday, according to the Israeli daily Haaretz.

Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, and finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich, chaired the discussions, which included leaders of West Bank settlements and mayors from central Israel.

Under the proposed measures, Israeli authorities would be able to confiscate Palestinian-owned waste trucks through military orders issued by the Israeli army. The plan also provides for unlimited budgets to recruit contractors and secure equipment for firefighting and waste removal.