On Friday, an armed Palestinian killed seven people in front of a synagogue in east Jerusalem. Another attack followed on Saturday, in which a 13-year-old Palestinian seriously injured two Israelis. A day before the attack in front of the synagogue, ten Palestinians were killed in a raid by the Israeli army in the Palestinian refugee camp Jenin in the north of the occupied West Bank.
Israeli forces killed a Palestinian motorist in the West Bank on Monday. According to the Israeli army, the car had previously hit a soldier. That brings the number of Palestinians killed in the West Bank and East Jerusalem that month to 35.
Call for tension relief
The violence that has escalated in recent days has heightened the urgency of Blinken’s long-planned trip. Upon arrival at Tel Aviv airport, Blinken condemned those celebrating the violence in Jerusalem and “all other acts of terrorism that have claimed innocent lives.”
“It is everyone’s responsibility to take action to calm tensions rather than fuel them,” the US diplomat said. This is the only way to stop the growing wave of violence “that has already claimed too many lives – too many Israelis and too many Palestinians.”
Blinken had previously called on “all parties” to “calm the situation and de-escalate tensions” during a visit to Egypt. Egypt is an important mediator in the Middle East conflict. Blinken met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Foreign Minister Sameh Shukri before traveling to Israel. On Monday he met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, and on Tuesday he will visit Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.
Mutual finger pointing
Abbas’ autonomy authority warned at the weekend that the security situation would deteriorate further. A statement said the Palestinian leadership held the Israeli government “fully responsible for the dangerous escalation” of the past few days. This is the result of continued “crimes” against the Palestinian people. The PA was blatantly trying to justify Friday night’s terrorist attack, the worst by a Palestinian in Israel in 15 years.
But Netanyahu, who has been leading a coalition formed by religious fundamentalists and right-wing extremists for a month, responded to the attack with harsh measures. The presence of security forces is to be strengthened and there should be more preventive arrests. In addition, as Netanyahu announced on Sunday, relatives of assassins or assassins who support terrorism will be withdrawn from social security and health benefits.
More guns, bigger settlements
Workers “who have supported terrorism” are to be fired without further hearing. And the cabinet also discussed removing the Israeli residency permits for “terror-supporting” families. The far-right Minister for National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, even advocates the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis, and impunity for Israeli soldiers and policewomen. As has been the case up to now, the houses of assassins are to be sealed and demolished.
The Netanyahu government’s plans go even further. The guidelines for carrying firearms are to be relaxed so that “thousands of additional citizens can carry guns,” as Ben-Gvir said. In addition, settlement construction in the occupied territories is to be strengthened. This is to “make it clear to the terrorists who want to uproot us from our country that we are staying here,” said Netanyahu.
In a two-state solution to a confrontation with the USA
In doing so, however, he is setting out on a confrontational course with Israel’s most important ally, the United States. Blinken criticized the settlement policy in the occupied West Bank in clear terms only last month. “We will continue to oppose unequivocally any action that undermines the prospects for a two-state solution,” he said.
On Monday after his meeting with Netanyahu, he reiterated his position, albeit in more binding terms: From the point of view of the USA, the goal is still that Palestinians and Israelis can “enjoy freedom, security, opportunities, justice and dignity” to the same extent in the future. The two-state solution is still the best way to do this.
Huge military exercise facing Iran
Netanyahu and Blinken agreed on Iran: Tehran would not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons. “We discussed ways to deepen cooperation to counter Iran’s destabilizing activities in the region and beyond,” Blinken said. “Just as Iran has long supported terrorists who target Israelis and others, the regime is now supplying drones that Russia uses to kill innocent Ukrainian civilians.” In return, Moscow is supplying Iran with state-of-the-art weapons.
Just a few days ago, the United States completed a large-scale military exercise with Israel. According to media reports, it was the largest military exercise that Israel and the United States have ever held together.
Former Israeli military intelligence chief Amos Jadlin said on Monday: “I have never seen such a huge training by Israel and the US, with the planes and platforms that would be deployed if we chose the military option.” He did no doubt that the military option had come to the fore. “If you don’t have a credible military option, diplomacy will never succeed.” However, a military strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities is the last resort when all other means have failed.
