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Blink towards the Middle East; the worst violence between Israelis and Palestinians in decades

2023-01-28 17:41:00Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Blink towards the Middle East; the worst violence between Israelis and
Israeli police at the scene of the shooting of a 13-year-old Palestinian, a day after another shooting at a synagogue (January 28, 2023)

Fears of escalating violence between Israelis and Palestinians have materialized with a deadly attack on a synagogue in east Jerusalem on Friday. It came a day after Israel launched its deadliest attack in more than two decades. On Saturday, the Israeli authorities announced that a 13-year-old Palestinian wounded at least two people with a gun in East Jerusalem. As Voice of America correspondent Cindy Saine reports, the State Department is calling for a reduction in tensions, while Secretary of State Antony Blinken goes to the region on Sunday.

At least seven Israelis were killed Friday evening in a shooting at a synagogue in east Jerusalem. Israeli police said the attacker waited until people finished their Shabbat prayers and then opened fire. The attacker himself was later killed at the scene.

The US State Department strongly condemned what it called a terrorist attack.

Speaking to reporters shortly after the incident was announced, US State Department Deputy Spokesman Vedant Patel said the attack was absolutely horrific and that the US commitment to Israel's security continues to be assured. Mr Patel said Secretary of State Antony Blinken's plans to visit Egypt, Israel and the West Bank on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday had not changed.

Palestinians protested earlier on Friday in Jerusalem and on Thursday at the site of an operation by Israeli forces in a refugee camp in the West Bank. Palestinian officials said at least nine people were killed, including a 61-year-old woman.

The Israeli military released footage from the soldiers' helmet-mounted cameras, saying they had targeted members of the Islamic Jihad terrorist group, who were involved in planning and executing attacks against Israelis.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's spokesman called the operation a massacre and declared three days of mourning.

"With the continued aggression against our people and the violation of signed agreements, including security ones, we consider as of this moment non-existent security coordination with the Israeli occupation government," said Palestinian spokesman Rudeineh.

During his trip to the Middle East, Secretary Blinken will speak with Palestinian, Israeli and Egyptian officials on issues such as the protection of human rights and democratic values.

But escalating violence could cast a shadow over his visit. On Friday, Israel fired rockets into the West Bank in response to strikes by Palestinian militants.

Some analysts, such as Brian Katulis of the Middle East Institute, had previously had concerns about the inclusion of far-right ministers in Israel's new coalition government under returned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But violence, he says, adds another dimension of complexity.

"This (violence) creates further complications for a situation that was already complicated with the new Israeli government, with concerns about more extremist voices in the government and what they might do to upset not only the situation of the Palestinians, but also wider in the region", he said.

Mr. Katulis says another major issue for Secretary Blinken's trip will be Iran, the stalled nuclear deal, and the United States' response to ongoing protests for women's rights and against the brutality of the Iranian government./ VOA


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