PH Quickie: how NOT to solve the problem of Palestinian outrage

by Kathryn Shihadah

Recent days have seen a spike in attacks by Palestinians on Israeli citizens, bad news for Israelis, but they have already formulated a plan to deal with the trend.

The Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz reports that Israel’s police budget needs an influx of cash, and plans are in the works to spend an extra $56.7 million between now and August. The money will go toward recruiting 200 additional police, setting up a brigade of reservists, and purchasing more equipment like bulletproof vests.

Israel is also considering limiting the number and ages of Palestinians allowed to worship in Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque during the holy month of Ramadan.

Ramadan 2021 saw massive conflict in and around Jerusalem, featuring Israeli military invasions into Muslim holy sites, beating worshipers, and blocking emergency vehicles from helping the injured. At the same time, Israeli airstrikes in Gaza killed over 250 Palestinians,

Many fear that another round of aggression may be imminent.

The Associated Press points out that the recent Palestinian attacks on Israeli citizens may be an indication that Israel’s approach to the Palestinian unrest – “years of efforts to sideline the issue” – is failing.

Israel alternates between ignoring Palestinians’ demands for justice, and using “an iron fist” to crush protest.

In between these efforts, Israel fends off an ever-growing number of human rights orgs’ accusations that it is an apartheid regime.

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What Israel calls “Arab terrorism” is in reality Palestinian resistance, about the only form of resistance they have left, as they have no official armed forces, no powerful allies, and no energizing leadership. They do have the power to say No to their oppression.

Israel may have one of the most powerful militaries in the world, but it can not subdue Palestinians through force. The only way to bring the conflict to an end is by giving Palestinians justice – for the first time in decades.

Israel seems to be incapable of thinking in these terms.