Ben Gvir to cops: Prepare for major East Jerusalem op; senior official slaps him down
Times of IsraelFeb 10, 2023
Facts
- According to Israeli police, a man plowed his car into a crowded bus stop in Jerusalem on Friday, killing two people, including a six-year-old boy, and injuring five others in what is being called a "ramming terror attack."[1]
- Police reportedly shot and killed the suspect at the scene. The second casualty was identified as a man in his 20s, while those injured ranged from eight to 40 years old and are in moderate to severe condition. Police say people were waiting at the bus stop in the Jewish settlement of Ramot in east Jerusalem when the attack occurred.[2]
- Police say the attacker was 31-year-old Hussein Qaraqa, an Israeli citizen residing in the East Jerusalem Palestinian neighborhood of Issawiya, adding that he was mentally ill. The Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas terror groups didn't claim the attack despite praising it as "heroic."[3]
- Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu ordered security forces to crack down on possible accomplices to the attack, directing units in the area to be reinforced while also ordering that the suspect’s home be demolished.[4]
- This is the latest in a series of deadly incidents amid escalating tensions between Israel and Palestine. On Jan. 27, a Palestinian shooting attack killed seven people outside a synagogue in Jerusalem's deadliest attack in over a decade.[2]
- Meanwhile, last month, 10 Palestinians, including two civilians, were killed in an Israeli raid in the West Bank city of Jenin; five Palestinian militants were also killed in a battle with Israeli troops earlier this week. So far this year, at least 39 Palestinians have reportedly been killed by Israeli forces, while at least eight Israelis have died in Palestinian attacks.[5]
Spin
Pro-Israel
This latest attack by a Palestinian extremist, brutally killing an innocent six-year-old boy, illustrates why Israel needs to enhance its efforts to root out terrorism and protect the Israeli people. As tough as his policies are, security minister Ben Gvir has seen many Israelis die on his watch, and it's time he strengthens enforcement. This conflict is not subsiding, and Israel is obligated to defend itself.
Pro-Palestine
All violence is tragic and must be condemned, but people must not forget the violence and oppression first imposed by Israel’s apartheid regime. Palestinians are being abused, dispossessed, and even killed every day, and something must be done to dismantle the occupation of the West Bank. As governments and international organizations increasingly speak out against Israel, they must not cower in the face of public backlash and lobbying efforts.
