Violence in the Middle East continues through Easter

During Easter, new confrontations broke out in the Middle East. A 15-year-old Palestinian was killed Monday in an Israeli military operation near Jericho in the southern West Bank. A 48-year-old Israeli woman also succumbed to her injuries three days after an attack in the West Bank that killed two of her daughters. The family came from Great Britain. The Palestinian suspects are still on the run.

Easter this year coincided with the Jewish holiday of Pesach and the fasting month of Ramadan.

After new rocket attacks from Syria, the Israeli army struck targets in the hostile neighboring country on Sunday night. A total of six rockets were fired from Syrian territory into the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, according to the military. Media reports say a Palestinian group has claimed responsibility for the first of two attacks.

15-year-old killed in Israeli military operation

With regard to the incident at a refugee camp near Jericho, the army announced on Monday that soldiers had entered the camp to arrest a terror suspect there. Violent unrest broke out during the operation. A youth suffered gunshot wounds to the head, chest and abdomen in the incident, the Palestinian health ministry said. He died as a result of the injuries. According to media reports, two Israeli soldiers were wounded by gunfire during a raid in Nablus.

The situation in the occupied West Bank has been tense for months. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry, 93 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of the year in clashes with the Israeli army or in their own attacks. During that period, 17 Israelis, an Italian and a Ukrainian were killed in attacks.

Stop near Tel Aviv

An Italian tourist was killed and seven other holidaymakers injured in an attack near Tel Aviv’s beach promenade on Friday evening.

To show solidarity with settlers in the West Bank, thousands of Israelis, including far-right ministers and lawmakers, marched on Monday to the Eviatar settlement south of the Palestinian city of Nablus. Eviatar was evacuated about two years ago after an agreement with the residents.

However, members of Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing religious government are pushing for legalization and resettlement of Eviatar. Palestinians from nearby towns claim the land as their own. According to media reports, Palestinians protested during the march. The Palestinian Red Crescent said about 100 people had been treated after tear gas was used.

Israel captured the West Bank and East Jerusalem in 1967. Today, more than 600,000 Israeli settlers live there. The Palestinians claim the areas for their own state.

protests against Netanyahu

Despite the heightened security situation in Israel, there were renewed protests on Saturday evening against the policies of Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing religious government. Tens of thousands demonstrated in the coastal city of Tel Aviv and other cities against the controversial judicial reform. They lit candles and observed a minute’s silence to remember the victims of the attacks.

In view of the violent incidents, Israel has tightened security measures during the Jewish holiday of Passover. Acting Defense Minister Joav Galant ordered the military to reinforce the police force. He also extended an entry ban for Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza Strip until Wednesday evening.

About 1,000 Jews again visited the Temple Mount (Al-Haram al-Sharif) in Jerusalem’s Old City on Monday, according to media reports. The facility is under Muslim rule, with Israel responsible for security. The Temple Mount with the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam. However, it is also sacred to Jews because there used to be two Jewish temples. Recently there have been violent clashes between the police and Palestinians. (saw/sda/dpa)