Weekly Update: Terrorist attacks in Israel in midst of great political change

There has been a surge of terrorist attacks in Israel in recent days. 11 innocent people have been killed in three separate attacks.

In a deadly terror shooting spree in Bnei Brak yesterday, a Palestinian shooter took the lives of five victims. Each was a random victim.

Each victim’s death is tragic, and entirely senseless. Two of yesterday’s victims were Ukrainian nationals- Victor Sorokopot and Dimitri Mitrik – who had recently escaped the war in Ukraine. The others included two young fathers and a police officer who helped kill the gunman.The police officer was Amir Khoury, 32, a Christian Arab. The others were local residents Yaakov Shalom, 36, and Avishai Yehezkel, 29.

Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) has shown that PA Chairman Abbas has been calling on Palestinians to murder Israelis.

“For example, at the PLO Central Council meeting in February: “President [Abbas called] in all his speeches to initiate popular resistance.” [Official PA TV, Feb. 8, 2022] PMW has documented that “popular resistance” is the PA call for civilians to carry out terror attacks.

Having promoted terror for 2 months, the PA glorified the first terror attack in which 4 Israelis were murdered. After criticism from Israel, the PA was silent about the second attack in which 2 were murdered. And then only when Israel’s defense minister and the United States pressured Abbas he issued a lame condemnation.”

Finally, under pressure, PA President Abbas issued a weak condemnation of the most recent attack.

It is feared that there will be an even further increase of terror, in the period leading up to Ramadan (2 April – 2 May). Several high-level Israeli officials – including President Isaac Herzog – have met in recent days with King Hussein of Jordan, which is is responsible for the Jerusalem Islamic Waqf which controls the Temple Mount, where Moslims traditionally gather at Ramadan, and often the scene of tensions as Israeli police seek to keep order.

Israel is on full security alert, fully aware that it was disruptions in Jerusalem during Ramadan last May that Hamas used as an excuse to fire rockets on Jerusalem, triggering the 11-day conflict in Gaza.

Another important development this past week has been a series of diplomatic meetings between Israel and some of its Arab neighbors. Last week at Sharm el-Sheikh Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and UAE Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed (MBZ). Last weekend, at the “Negev Summit”, Israeli Foreign Minister Lapid met with his counterparts from the US, Morocco, Egypt, Bahrain and UAE.

In the background, is the ongoing shifting of alliances in the Middle East, in light of the “negotiations” with Iran concerning Iran’s nuclear program. And of course everyone is aware that Russia’s position in the Middle East may change as a result of the Ukraine war.

Whether any of these machinations will lead to peace remains to be seen.

In the midst of all of this, the Lord continues to bring His children home from the land of the North, where He has promised to protect them and care for them.

Let us continue to pray for the people of Ukraine, the leaders of our nations, and protection for the Jewish refugees from the land of the north, and all the people of Israel.

Above all, we pray for the coming of the Prince of Peace.

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For Israel, the Negev Summit was all about Iran. For other participants, not so much
Jacob Magid in Times of Israel: Foreign diplomats involved say Tehran wasn’t what brought them to Sde Boker, as each country has its own concerns that justify participation in first-of-its-kind gathering.
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Becoming the strong tribe of the Middle East
Caroline Glick: “With the U.S. pulling up stakes in the Middle East, the Sunni Arab states are trying to decide whether to grovel to Iran, or stand with Israel. Today, in the face of Biden’s abandonment, Israel has but one option—to become the strong tribe of the Middle East.
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