04-24-2021, 08:49 PM
** 24-Apr-2021 World View: Violence grows between Palestinians and far-right Jews in East Jerusalem
The beginnings of this are not clear from the press reports, but
apparently this all began with the start of Ramadan on April 13.
Palestinians wanted to gather in the promenade around the walls to the
Old City to break the Ramadan fast at the end of each day. But
Israeli police had blocked off access, giving Covid restrictions as
the reason. The Palestinians claim that East Jerusalem is Palestinian
territory being illegally occupied by Israel.
There were several nights of sporadic violence until Thursday, but
then a TikTok video went viral, apparently showing an Israeli being
abused by an Arab. That's when the right-wing extremist Jewish
settler organization Lehavah held a large demonstration, chanting
"Death to Arabs" and carrying signs saying "Death to Terrorists."
Palestinians heard about this, and a crowd responded by throwing
firecrackers and setting garbage bins on fire.
Israeli police intervened to keep the two sides apart by blocking the
Damascus Gate. Since then, hundreds of Palestinians, Israelis, and
police have been wounded, with no reports of deaths.
This is the worst violence in years betwee Israeli police and
Palestinians in East Jerusalem.
The violence is spreading to other West Bank cities and the Israeli
Arab city Umm al-Fahm. It has also caused renewed clashes between
Israel's army and Hamas in Gaza, with an exchange of bombings and
rockets.
---- Sources:
-- Israel's Netanyahu calls for 'calm' in Jerusalem after violence
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/la...047cc88956
(AFP, 24-Apr-2021)
-- East Jerusalem / Police bolsters J'lem forces following unrest
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1FkB0ZDd
(YNet, 24-Apr-2021)
-- Umm al-Fahm / Hundreds Protest in Israeli Arab City Against
Far-right Violence in Jerusalem
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.pre...-1.9742870
(Haaretz, 24-Apr-2021)
-- US ‘deeply concerned’ over Jerusalem violence
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/1/101...m-violence
(US News, 24-Apr-2021)
-- Violent clashes in Jerusalem after Israeli far-right march
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/23...-jerusalem
(Al-Jazeera, 23-Apr-2021)
-- Jerusalem Tension Triggers Gaza-Israel Fire Exchange
https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articl...e-exchange
(AP, 24-Apr-2021)
The beginnings of this are not clear from the press reports, but
apparently this all began with the start of Ramadan on April 13.
Palestinians wanted to gather in the promenade around the walls to the
Old City to break the Ramadan fast at the end of each day. But
Israeli police had blocked off access, giving Covid restrictions as
the reason. The Palestinians claim that East Jerusalem is Palestinian
territory being illegally occupied by Israel.
There were several nights of sporadic violence until Thursday, but
then a TikTok video went viral, apparently showing an Israeli being
abused by an Arab. That's when the right-wing extremist Jewish
settler organization Lehavah held a large demonstration, chanting
"Death to Arabs" and carrying signs saying "Death to Terrorists."
Palestinians heard about this, and a crowd responded by throwing
firecrackers and setting garbage bins on fire.
Israeli police intervened to keep the two sides apart by blocking the
Damascus Gate. Since then, hundreds of Palestinians, Israelis, and
police have been wounded, with no reports of deaths.
This is the worst violence in years betwee Israeli police and
Palestinians in East Jerusalem.
The violence is spreading to other West Bank cities and the Israeli
Arab city Umm al-Fahm. It has also caused renewed clashes between
Israel's army and Hamas in Gaza, with an exchange of bombings and
rockets.
---- Sources:
-- Israel's Netanyahu calls for 'calm' in Jerusalem after violence
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/la...047cc88956
(AFP, 24-Apr-2021)
-- East Jerusalem / Police bolsters J'lem forces following unrest
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1FkB0ZDd
(YNet, 24-Apr-2021)
-- Umm al-Fahm / Hundreds Protest in Israeli Arab City Against
Far-right Violence in Jerusalem
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.pre...-1.9742870
(Haaretz, 24-Apr-2021)
-- US ‘deeply concerned’ over Jerusalem violence
https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/1/101...m-violence
(US News, 24-Apr-2021)
-- Violent clashes in Jerusalem after Israeli far-right march
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/23...-jerusalem
(Al-Jazeera, 23-Apr-2021)
-- Jerusalem Tension Triggers Gaza-Israel Fire Exchange
https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articl...e-exchange
(AP, 24-Apr-2021)
