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Jerusalem synagogue attack pushes city to new level of fear and antagonism Jerusalem synagogue attack pushes city to new level of fear and antagonism
(35 minutes later)
It is hard to envisage an attack more horrific or more calculated to push Jerusalem – a city already taut with tension – to a new level of fear and antagonism. Two Palestinians, armed with meat cleavers and a gun, burst into a synagogue in west Jerusalem, and slaughtered four Jews at morning prayer. It is hard to envisage an attack more horrific or more calculated to push Jerusalem – a city already taut with tension – to a new level of fear and antagonism. Two Palestinians, armed with meat cleavers and a gun, burst into a synagogue in west Jerusalem and slaughtered four Jews at morning prayer.
The synagogue is the symbolic heart of any Jewish community, just as the mosque is at the centre of Muslim neighbourhoods. An attack on a synagogue is an assault on Jewish identity.The synagogue is the symbolic heart of any Jewish community, just as the mosque is at the centre of Muslim neighbourhoods. An attack on a synagogue is an assault on Jewish identity.
The apparent trigger for Tuesday’s attack appears to be the death of a Palestinian bus driver, found hanged in his cab. The Israeli authorities said it was suicide; many Palestinians believe it was a lynching. The trigger for Tuesday’s attack appears to have been the death of a Palestinian bus driver, found hanged in his cab. The Israeli authorities said it was suicide, but many Palestinians believe it was a lynching.
But the backdrop is months of rising tension in the city, focused on the holy site in the Old City that is sacred to Jews as the Temple Mount and revered by Palestinians as Haram al-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary). Palestinians fear, with justification, that small numbers of hardline Jewish nationalists are attempting to challenge and break Muslim jurisdiction over the site. The backdrop is months of rising tension in the city, focused on a holy site in the Old City that is sacred to Jews as the Temple Mount and revered by Palestinians as Haram al-Sharif, or the Noble Sanctuary. Palestinians fear, with justification, that small numbers of hardline Jewish nationalists are attempting to challenge and break Muslim jurisdiction over the site.
Condemnation of the synagogue attack was swift. Israeli politicians, led by the prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, promised to “respond with a heavy hand”; the US secretary of state, John Kerry, and European governments issued statements decrying the brutal murders; and the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, condemned the synagogue killings in particular and the killing of civilians generally. Condemnation of the synagogue attack was swift. Israeli politicians led by the prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, promised to “respond with a heavy hand”; the US secretary of state, John Kerry, and European governments issued statements decrying the murders; and the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, condemned the synagogue killings in particular and the killing of civilians generally.
Equally swift but in stark contrast was the response of Palestinian militant factions. Hamas welcomed the attack as a “response to ongoing crimes against the al-Aqsa mosque [Haram Al-Sharif]” and urged similar actions. Islamic Jihad said it was a “natural reaction” to recent events. The Popular Resistance Committees described it as “heroic”. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – to which the assailants reportedly were affiliated - “blessed” the killings. Equally swift, but in stark contrast, was the response of Palestinian militant factions. Hamas welcomed the attack as a “response to ongoing crimes against the al-Aqsa mosque [Haram Al-Sharif]” and urged similar actions. Islamic Jihad said it was a natural reaction to recent events. The Popular Resistance Committees described it as heroic. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, to which the assailants reportedly were affiliated , blessed the killings.
A string of attacks – vehicle rammings, stabbings and shootings – over recent months has raised the question of whether this is the beginning of a new, third Palestinian intifada, or uprising. A string of attacks over recent months including vehicle rammings, stabbings and shootings, has raised the question of whether this is the beginning of a third Palestinian intifada, or uprising.
Some commentators have pointed to the undeniable mounting frustration among Palestinians over the failure to bring any nearer their goal of a state, never-ceasing settlement-building in the West Bank and East Jerusalem by the Israelis, and the continued grind and misery of living under military occupation. Some commentators have pointed to the undeniable mounting frustration among Palestinians over the failure to bring their goal of a state any nearer, Israel’s continued building of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and the ongoing grind and misery of living under military occupation.
However, these attacks appear to be uncoordinated assaults launched by individuals or small groups rather than carefully-planned operations mounted by militant groups. That could change. The recent attacks appear to be uncoordinated assaults launched by individuals or small groups rather than carefully-planned operations mounted by militant groups. That could change, but there appears to be an absence of widespread popular support among Palestinians in the West Bank for such actions.
There also appears to be an absence of widespread popular support among Palestinians in the West Bank for such actions. The attacks are hailed enthusiastically in the impoverished and volatile refugee camps of Palestine; but so far there has been little evidence of mass support – and a willingness to take to the streets – among the majority of Palestinians. The attacks are hailed enthusiastically in the impoverished and volatile refugee camps of Palestine, but so far there has been little evidence of mass support – and a willingness to take to the streets – among the majority of Palestinians.
That could change, too. Netanyahu may up the stakes with a big military operation in response to the synagogue killings, which could have the effect of increasing support for similar actions against Israelis – just as the military assault on Gaza in the summer saw Hamas’s popularity rise. That could change, too. Netanyahu may raise the stakes with a major military operation in response to the synagogue killings, which could increase support for similar actions against Israelis – just as the military assault on Gaza in the summer saw Hamas’s popularity rise.
But whether the events of recent weeks are the start of a new cycle of violence between Israel and the Palestinians, or whether the current tensions will subside for now, further acts of horror and bloodshed will be committed in future if the underlying causes of the conflict are unresolved. Whether the events of recent weeks are the start of a new cycle of violence, or whether the current tensions will subside for now, further acts of horror and bloodshed will be committed if the underlying causes of the conflict are not resolved.