This is part of the same pattern inspired by Islamic State, by ISIS, that we saw first in France, then in Germany and now in Jerusalem.
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) January 8, 2017
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today claimed that the Palestinian resident of East Jerusalem who plowed a truck into a group of Israeli soldiers, was affiliated with Isis. Netanyahu offered no proof of the Isis claim and it should not be given any credit. He appears to seek to link Palestinian terror attacks with attacks in Europe by those inspired by ISIS. Such linkage would, he believes, inspire sympathy for Israel in the world community and link it to the general revulsion that the West feels towards such attacks.
However these assaults, as reprehensible as they are, are not inspired by ISIS. Rather, they are inspired by long-standing Palestinian grievances against Israeli Occupation. There is no known ISIS presence in either the West Bank or Gaza. There is rumored to be a Salafist group in Gaza engaging in attacks meant to compete with Hamas. However this group is marginal at best.
A confidential Israeli security source wrote to me: “We have clues that the terrorist lately became close to the Salafi ideology, so we do suspect it’s a ‘lone wolf’ attack inspired by similar attacks in Europe.” However, absent any more detailed account of what the “clues” are and how they define “Salafi ideology,” and how it is connected directly to ISIS, I prefer to remain highly skeptical. Especially considering Netanyahu’s proclivity to lie at the drop of a hat, even when the truth is a better option.
The bus that was attacked was carrying soldiers who were about to take a historical tour of occupied Jerusalem. This is part of an ideological indoctrination in which soldiers are taught about the 1967 Israeli conquest of Jerusalem and the realization of centuries of religious longing for “Redemption” of the Holy City.
Armon HaNatziv was one of the first strategic victories in the Israeli 1967 conquest of Jerusalem. As such it carries a historical significance which the IDF seeks to instill in new recruits.
This, of course, does not justify the murders. However, it does place them in the context of a 70 years struggle by Palestinians for their own national rights. A struggle which Israel has resisted and rejected at every turn. Not to mention that Israel’s massive attacks on Palestinians, which have killed tens of thousands over the decades, many of them civilians, are viewed as state terror by Palestinians.
There is a time and place for armed resistance to an occupier. This terror attack is self-defeating in a political context. Momentarily global opinion is turning towards Palistinian statehood.
Elected DT will do no more harm to Palestinians than 8 years under Obama. Shame.
“Armon HaNatziv was one of the first strategic victories in the Israeli 1967 conquest of Jerusalem. As such it carries a historical significance which the IDF seeks to instill in new recruits”
To be a bit more precise, Armon HaNatziv was the main trigger for the Israeli conquest of Jerusalem in June 1967. While Israel was fighting Egypt, it worn king Hussain not to intervene in the war. He was indeed reluctant but was pressed hard by Natzer. So, his forces began shelling west Jerusalem and made an offensive move-taking over Armon HaNatziv which was a demilitarized zone, a strategic point where the UN local headquarter was stationed. The Jordanian soldiers fired from this location towards west Jerusalem and than were driven away in a bloody battle with an Israeli force. Than came subsequent battles.
If one wants to know the full story, he or she may read Tom Segev’s book “1967”
BTW, we don’t know what inspired the attacker in Jerusalem. It could be the similar attacks that just happened in Europe. However, similar attacks happened in Jerusalem before they happened in Europe and making a claim such as Bibi made thus demands some evidence, such as ISIS realted facebook posts of the attacer or some similar meterial. As I am not aware of him producing any such evidence, I can only conclude that he was speaking out of his ass,
And that was my third and last comment for today…
False early reporting that soldiers hesitated to shoot for fear of what has been dubbed the “Elor Azaria effect.”
@Oui: Israel’s version of fake news.
Thanks, Richard, that you mention Armon HaNatziv also known as East Talpiot was conquered in 1967, by the way, much of the land belong to residents of Jabal Mukabber where the Palestinian attacker comes from.
I’m so disgusted that absolutely no MSM mention where this attack actually happened, no French media mention it, many speak about ‘West Jerusalem’ or just ‘Jerusalem’ switching to ‘Israel’ as the public television, and Hollande spoke about ‘un attaque odieux’.
@Deir Yassin: Yes, I think these distinctions are important.
Here are pics of the four young people cut down in their youth by the terrorist.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4904960,00.html
@ Ben: Interesting that you don’t put up pictures of the thousands of Palestinian children “cut down in their youth” by Israeli forces murdering them in cold blood. Some are far younger than these soldiers & none were serving in the military or in any way stealing Israeli land or occupying Israel.
Why is that? Hmm? Two can play this game, buddy.
[comment deleted: snark is not a substantive comment and violates the comment rules. Read them carefully if you haven’t already.]
While it is sad that anyone dies in this conflict, the fact that the dead and injured are soldiers while on activity in an Israeli settlement makes it a legitimate military target in my opinion. The soldiers should have known that they are a foreign occupying presence in the region and taken appropriate measures to protect themselves. The best way for a soldier to protect himself is to not be a soldier in an Israeli settlement (i.e. refuse).