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Palestinian communities steadily disrupted by settlements

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The Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will address the UN General Assembly tomorrow where he is expected to spell out Israel’s response to growing recognition of a Palestinian state.

While his government has hinted it could annex the West Bank, he has just linked a widely condemned settlement plan to the denial of any future Palestinian state.

Europe Editor Tony Connelly and cameraman Bram Verbeke report from the illegal settlement of Ma’ale Adumim on what is at stake.


Two weeks ago, the Israeli prime minister announced the massive expansion of an Israeli settlement. But this was not just any expansion or any settlement: the plan poses a much graver threat to the two-state solution.

“We said there wouldn’t be a Palestinian state and we say again there won’t be a Palestinian state. This place is ours. We will take care of our country, our security and our heritage,” said Mr Netanyahu.

A future Palestinian state is supposed to comprise most of the West Bank. It’s capital, say Palestinians, should be East Jerusalem.

However, long-standing Palestinian communities have been steadily disrupted by illegal Jewish settlements, one of the largest of which is Ma’ale Adumim.

The so-called E1 project would expand the settlement westward, essentially cutting off East Jerusalem from the West Bank, and, critics say, driving a wedge through the heart of a future Palestinian state.

A map of the so-called E1 project in the West Bank
A map of the so-called E1 project in the West Bank

It also poses an immediate threat to Palestinian communities now in the firing line, and would prevent any prospect of East Jerusalem expanding.

One Bedouin farmer was warned he had 60 days to vacate his property or it would be demolished, and he would have to foot the bill.

“It will kill the dream of a Palestinian state, taking a lot of land from Jerusalem, and in particular it will separate the south from the north of the West Bank. It will destroy Bedouin life in the area,” said Attalah Jahlein.

In stark contrast to the hemmed in and impoverished Palestinian communities, Ma’ale Adumim itself is pristine and affluent, studded with palm trees and boasting its own shopping centre.

Established in the mid 70s, the settlement is now 50,000 strong, and according to its residents, must have room to grow.

Bedouin farmer Attalah Jahlein
Bedouin farmer Attalah Jahlein said the expansion would destroy Bedouin life in the area

The project has been in the pipeline for decades, blocked by successive US administrations. A defiant Israeli government now wants to press ahead.

The project would run all the way from East Jerusalem to Ma’ale Adumim – 12 sq/km of Palestinian hills, valleys, pastoral land and homes, all to be confiscated.

Mr Netanyahu has vowed there can never be a Palestinian state – critics say this would be one way to achieve that.

This week Palestinians caught the tantalising glimpse of a future state, but as frustration deepens, it remains an elusive dream.

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School secretaries and caretakers dispute back before WRC

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Talks on access to pensions for school secretaries and caretakers will resume at the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) today.

The dispute saw more than 2,600 school staff, who are members of the Fórsa trade union, engage in strike action for more than a week impacting around 2,000 schools.

Fórsa withdrew the strike action after an agreement was reached to engage in a process to resolve the dispute.

The union said that the key element of the proposals is a Government commitment to negotiate pension entitlements for school secretaries and caretakers that are comparable with teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs).

Negotiations were held at the WRC for around two hours earlier this month and the talks will resume later this morning.

Aside from pensions, the agreement also provides for discussions on other issues including access to bereavement leave and sick leave, as well as the conclusion of a pay deal for caretakers.

If there are any outstanding issues following the WRC talks, the parties have agreed to have the matters referred to the Labour Court.

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Dublin house price inflation eases – DNG

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The annual rate of price increase in the Dublin residential property market has moderated for a third quarter in a row, according to new research.

The latest results of the DNG House Price Gauge (HPG) show that in the three months to September, the average price of a resale home in the capital increased by 0.9%, in contrast to the same period last year when prices rose by 2.5%.

The annualised rate of Dublin house price inflation moderated to 6.2% for the year to September 2025, lower than the rate of 8% recorded in the year to June 2025, and below the rate of 9.6% recorded in the year to March 2025.

According to the DNG HPG, the average price of a Dublin home has increased by 150% since the last market low point in 2012, however, prices still remain below the previous historical peak seen in 2006.

Prices at the upper end of the market are 24.5% below their previous peak, while prices at the entry and mid-market levels are less than 5% lower than the previous peak.

The average price of a resale property in the capital now stands at €605,612.

The DNG Apartment Price Gauge (APG) recorded an increase in apartment values in the third quarter of the year of 1%, this compares to a 1.1% increase in the second quarter and 1.9% in the first three months of the year.

The research shows that the percentage of DNG sales by investors offloading rental properties increased to 27% of sales in the third quarter of the year, up from 20% of sales in second quarter.

An analysis of DNG purchasers during the third quarter shows that first time buyers accounted for just over half of purchases of resale properties in the capital.

“The latest results of the DNG House Price Gauge paint a picture of stability in the Dublin residential market at the present time, with price inflation moderating as this year has progressed,” said DNG’s Director of Research Paul Murgatroyd.

“House price inflation in the capital was running at close to 10% per annum at the end of last year but since then the rate of increase has gradually eased back to a more sustainable level,” Mr Murgatroyd.

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Ó hAnnaidh due in court charged with alleged terrorism

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A member of Belfast rap group, Kneecap, is due to appear in court in London this morning.

Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, also known by his stage name Mo Chara, is charged with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah at a gig in London last year.

The 27-year-old who denies the charge will appear before Woolwich Crown Court.

The hearing had been due to take place at Westminster Magistrates Court, however the building was forced to close yesterday due to flooding.

Mr Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last May.

It followed an incident at a gig in Kentish town in north London last November when he is alleged to have displayed a Hezbollah flag.

Mr Ó hAnnaidh denies the charge and has described it as political.

It is the argument of his legal team that the charge was brought after the six month time limit to bring such a charge, and therefore the case should be dropped.

Today the judge is expected to outline his decision as to whether the case will proceed to trial or be thrown out.

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