Israel re-establishes closed West Bank settlement, defying growing international protests

Samer is partially blind and has a leg injury that makes moving difficult."Fear dominates everything. We are completely defenceless," he said. "All of them have weapons. I'm bringing concrete blocks to close off this side of the house because I'm afraid for my children."Samer has watched settlements – and settler attacks – grow in other parts of the West Bank over the past few years, despite international pressure."Europe has no time for us, America is preoccupied with Iran, China has no interest," his analysis began. "Russia is busy with Ukraine, the United Nations is finished, and the Arab countries have their own internal problems.""Democratic systems are over, they're finished," he concluded, anger and bitterness leaking out. "Civilisation, progress and modernity are lies."Alongside the new settlements around Jenin, two new Israeli military bases are rapidly going up – construction vehicles churning up dust behind high concrete walls topped with watchtowers and barbed wire, Israeli flags flapping in the wind.A military outpost is also being built on seized Palestinian land beside Jenin Refugee Camp – the first Israeli military base to be built on land under full Palestinian Aut...