The third Intifada? Yes, said Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh delivering the sermon during Friday prayers in Gaza City. “We are calling for the strengthening and increasing of the Intifada… It is the only path that will lead to liberation. Gaza will fulfill its role in the Jerusalem Intifada and it is more than ready for confrontation,” he said. Since then, there has been a sharp uptick in clashes between Palestinians and Israel. The death toll is spiralling on the Palestinian side, as always. The Israeli military is on high alert and the Israeli public are in a panic mode at the possibility of rocket attacks from the Palestinian side. Israeli Prime Minister has threatened to unleash the severest punishment against Palestinians. Stones will be met with bullets and crude Palestinian rockets will be met with sophisticated Israeli bombs.
Two more Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip yesterday, and there were two stabbings outside Jerusalem’s Old City and more West Bank clashes. A rocket hit southern Israel without causing casualties early yesterday, shortly after clashes along the border saw Israeli forces kill seven Palestinians. Rioting has shaken east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, with Palestinians throwing stones and firebombs at Israeli police and the military, who have responded with live and rubber bullets, tear gas and stun grenades.
Infifadas tell the world that Palestinians have suffered enough and are forced to retaliate, that they will not acquiesce to the oppression of Israel. That intifidas don’t happen frequently, that its oubreak is feared by Israel, that it’s an expression of desperation of Palestinians against their oppressors show its importance in Palestinians’ struggle for freedom. This Intifada is symbolic of the predicament West Bank Palestinians find themselves in their own land where they are harassed and hounded by armed settlers who have all the protection of the Israeli soldiers while the Palestinian Authority, which is supposed to protect Palestinians, is unable to do enough.
The situation is likely to spin out of control very soon, unless there is an intervention from Palestinian and Israeli authorities to stop the violence. Haniyeh has said this is the third Intifada, but it’s too early to say. The region is in turmoil, with Syria continuing to burn with the intervention of Russia. This is an Intifada that the US will be very uncomfortable with as its hands are full.
US Secretary of State John Kerry has already shared his deep concern over the spiraling violence during telephone calls with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and president Mahmud Abbas. Kerry stressed the importance of upholding the status quo in word and deed.
Even if the current Intifada is contained through US intervention, another one will break out soon. Washington and Israel must realize that the Palestinian aspiration for freedom cannot be suppressed with force.
The third Intifada? Yes, said Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh delivering the sermon during Friday prayers in Gaza City. “We are calling for the strengthening and increasing of the Intifada… It is the only path that will lead to liberation. Gaza will fulfill its role in the Jerusalem Intifada and it is more than ready for confrontation,” he said. Since then, there has been a sharp uptick in clashes between Palestinians and Israel. The death toll is spiralling on the Palestinian side, as always. The Israeli military is on high alert and the Israeli public are in a panic mode at the possibility of rocket attacks from the Palestinian side. Israeli Prime Minister has threatened to unleash the severest punishment against Palestinians. Stones will be met with bullets and crude Palestinian rockets will be met with sophisticated Israeli bombs.
Two more Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip yesterday, and there were two stabbings outside Jerusalem’s Old City and more West Bank clashes. A rocket hit southern Israel without causing casualties early yesterday, shortly after clashes along the border saw Israeli forces kill seven Palestinians. Rioting has shaken east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, with Palestinians throwing stones and firebombs at Israeli police and the military, who have responded with live and rubber bullets, tear gas and stun grenades.
Infifadas tell the world that Palestinians have suffered enough and are forced to retaliate, that they will not acquiesce to the oppression of Israel. That intifidas don’t happen frequently, that its oubreak is feared by Israel, that it’s an expression of desperation of Palestinians against their oppressors show its importance in Palestinians’ struggle for freedom. This Intifada is symbolic of the predicament West Bank Palestinians find themselves in their own land where they are harassed and hounded by armed settlers who have all the protection of the Israeli soldiers while the Palestinian Authority, which is supposed to protect Palestinians, is unable to do enough.
The situation is likely to spin out of control very soon, unless there is an intervention from Palestinian and Israeli authorities to stop the violence. Haniyeh has said this is the third Intifada, but it’s too early to say. The region is in turmoil, with Syria continuing to burn with the intervention of Russia. This is an Intifada that the US will be very uncomfortable with as its hands are full.
US Secretary of State John Kerry has already shared his deep concern over the spiraling violence during telephone calls with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and president Mahmud Abbas. Kerry stressed the importance of upholding the status quo in word and deed.
Even if the current Intifada is contained through US intervention, another one will break out soon. Washington and Israel must realize that the Palestinian aspiration for freedom cannot be suppressed with force.
