Conflict in the Middle East: horror at terror in East Jerusalem

Two terrorist attacks in East Jerusalem, another attempted attack in the West Bank: the recent outbreak of violence in the Middle East conflict has caused concern in many countries. On Saturday evening, a man fired a shot at a restaurant near the West Bank city of Jericho, according to the Israeli military. Media reported that he subsequently had problems with his gun. This may have prevented further shots – and victims. It was the third incident in 24 hours.

Footage from a surveillance camera is said to show that the attacker was armed with an assault rifle. Armed forces are currently looking for the man. So nobody was injured.

13-year-old injured father and son

Unlike an attack in the morning. A 13-year-old Palestinian man shot and wounded a father and son in an Israeli settlement in the Silwan district of East Jerusalem. The police spoke of a “terrorist attack”. Armed passers-by finally shot the boy. The night before, an attack on visitors to a synagogue that left seven dead caused horror.

According to initial findings, the attacker on Friday in the Israeli settlement of Neve Yaakov was a 21-year-old from East Jerusalem. He was shot trying to escape. The police arrested at least 42 suspects – relatives and neighbors of the assassin. It was not immediately known what they were charged with.

600,000 settlers in the West Bank

Israel conquered the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1967. More than 600,000 Israeli settlers live there today. The Palestinians claim the territories for an independent state of Palestine with the Arab-influenced eastern part of Jerusalem as the capital.

“We are not looking for an escalation, but we are prepared for every scenario,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday evening at a security cabinet meeting that wanted to deal with the situation after the terrorist attacks.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and many other international politicians condemned the attack. “Germany stands by Israel’s side,” said von Scholz. “My heart breaks at the news of the terrible terrorist attacks on Shabbat in Jerusalem,” said Israeli President Izchak Herzog.

Worldwide horror

Saudi Arabia, which has no diplomatic relations with Israel, also said it condemned “any attacks on civilians”. Many Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, on the other hand, responded to Friday’s terrorist attack with celebrations. The Palestinian leadership issued a statement saying Israel was “fully responsible for the dangerous escalation.” 31 Palestinians have already been killed this year. The people, including several young people, died in connection with military operations and their own attacks.

On Thursday, nine people were killed in a raid by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank, including members of the militant Palestinian organization Islamic Jihad. It was one of the deadliest military operations in the Palestinian Authority in years.

Police minister wants to arm citizens

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once again called on his compatriots not to take the law into their own hands, but to let the army, the government and the security forces do their job. The far-right police minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, had previously called for citizens to be “better armed to avoid such attacks.” Ben-Gvir is considered a political arsonist and has already been convicted of racist hate speech and supporting a Jewish terrorist organization.

According to media reports, tens of thousands of people across the country protested against the new ultra-right government and its planned reforms in the judicial system on Saturday evening. Demonstrators lit candles to commemorate the victims of terror. They also observed a minute’s silence for those killed. Some observers are warning of the end of Israeli democracy in view of the planned reform.

(dpa)