Israel cracks down as Middle East violence intensifies

Israel has announced harsher measures to tackle violence from Palestinians.

 Israel cracks down as Middle East violence intensifies

Israel cracks down as Middle East violence intensifies

Israel has announced harsher measures to tackle violence from Palestinians.

The move comes as a Palestinian teenager was killed in an incident with Israeli soldiers near the West Bank town of Bethlehem.

There's grief at the death of a 13-year-old Palestinian child from a bullet wound to the chest, reportedly after clashes with Israeli security forces.

Grief also for the family of an 18-year-old Palestinian, Huzeifa Othman Suleiman, who Palestinian authorities say was also shot dead by Israeli forces.

His father is mourning the loss of his son. "He's not the first and he won't be the last martyr. He died for the sake of the homeland. The people and the National unity."

There's grief on both sides as tensions between Palestinians and Israelis continue in the West Bank and Jerusalem.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has been visiting Israelis in hospital who have been hurt in the violence.

Mr Netanyahu has also welcomed the arrest of five men in connection with the murder of an Israeli couple in front of their children near Nablus last week.

He's vowed to continue to take strong action against those responsible for the violence, with raids on Palestinian homes as well at the demolition of homes of people involved in violent activity.

"We are acting with a strong hand against terrorism and against inciters. We are operating on all fronts. We have brought an additional four Israel Defense Forces (IDF) battalions, and thousands of police into Jerusalem. The police are going deeply into the Arab neighbourhoods, which has not been done in the past. We will demolish terrorists' homes. We are allowing our forces to take strong action against those who throw rocks and firebombs. This is necessary in order to safeguard the security of Israeli citizens."

The violence has been inflamed by clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces at Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque compound, a site revered by both Muslims and Jews.

Meanwhile Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, is accusing the Palestinian Authority of cooperating with Israeli security forces to the detriment of Palestinians in the West Bank.

Hamas spokesman Ismael Radwan: "We call on the Palestine authority to stop the security coordination with the Israelis. They must free the hands of the Palestinian resistance to allow them to defend the people."

In response to the violence, Israelis celebrating the end of the Sukkot holiday used the opportunity to call on their government to do more to resolve the fighting and ensure their safety.

This demonstrator said, "I am here because Israel has had a couple of terrible, terrible terrorist attacks for the last few days.

Jewish people are being slaughtered just for being Jewish, and I want to stand in sympathy and solidarity with the Jewish people and say enough is enough."

 

 


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3 min read
Published 6 October 2015 7:16pm
Updated 7 October 2015 8:18pm

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