By Jake Schumer
Several acts of terror have occured across Israel, with escalating tensions between Palestinians and Israeli citizens ahead of the overlapping of Ramadan, Passover, and Easter.
These killings happened as various militant groups voiced support, although few have claimed to be directly responsible for any attacks. A March 29 shooting in Tel Aviv, which killed 5 people, was commended by Hamas, and the Islamic State (IS) took responsibility for a deadly shooting in Hadera. The conflict also rekindled concerns and growing criticism of Israel’s occupation in Palestinian territory.
These events raise questions on the best strategies to maintain public safety and prevent further aggression. Several government officials have discussed actions that need to be taken to ensure safety and address the agitation of the public.
“The goal of terrorism is not only to strike innocents but to cause us to hate and be angry at one another. To undermine, and to pull apart Israeli society from within. The terrorists want to see violent riots on Israel’s streets,” Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said in a statement.
Lapid is vocal about the need to resolve issues through working with the diplomats of other nations, especially after the Negev Summit with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and foreign ministers of Bahrain, Egypt, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates. He continued with detailing the value of keeping a consistent message following new government directives in response to the attacks.
“We won’t let the terrorists determine our policy, and we won’t let the terrorists tear us apart from within. In the face of the difficult images, we must unite and maintain self-control,” Lapid said.
Although he has stressed restraint, it is unclear whether his ideas are consistent with the actions of Israeli authorities. The increased fears surrounding the converging holy observances and recent hostility led Defense Minister Benny Gantz to send in 1,000 more Israeli Defense Force (IDF) soldiers to further patrol several cities as well as the borders of the West Bank, which is Palestinian territory governed by both the Palestinian Authrority and Israeli forces. With various endeavors focused on preventing violence, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett commented on the IDF, Israel National Counterterrorism Unit, and other defense agencies investigating threats in an interview with The Jerusalem Post.
“Our people are acting with courage around the clock in a hostile and violent environment. We are in the midst of a joint effort by the security forces to stop the recent terrorist attacks from continuing and to restore security to the citizens of Israel,” Bennett said.
Other officials have echoed similar sentiments, like IDF chief Aviv Kohavi saying their goal is to “maintain the daily routine of Israeli residents” in a recent meeting. Due to these comments, there has been criticism of Israel’s policies affecting the lives of Palestinians. This pressure was eased after major evictions of Palestinians were halted in early March. Mona Juul, Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations, released a statement on the moratorium and its temporary mitigation of tensions before these religious gatherings.
“Among the significant drivers of conflict are Israeli settlement activities, house demolitions and evictions. We welcome the decision by the Israeli Supreme Court to terminate eviction orders against four Palestinian families living in Sheikh Jarrah. However, long-term solutions are needed, and all evictions in East Jerusalem must be halted indefinitely,” Juul said.
The debate on forced removals of Palestinians from their homes is at the center of controversy surrounding Israeli policies. It was cited as the main cause of the conflict in Jerusalem during May of 2021 that led to protests and clashes between the IDF and various Palestinian groups, with hundreds deaths in the West Bank and Gaza. Similar to the message of Juul and various diplomats, others have spread messages of condemnation regarding the discriminatory actions of Israeli authorities.
“With the government of Israel looking the other way at internationally illegal Jewish settlements in the West Bank and the building of the systems of walls there, I am not surprised there is anger between Palestinians and Israelis,” NHS social studies teacher Anthony Metz said.
The legal victory in March aided efforts to avoid violence during religious gatherings this year. While much of the conflict is between Jewish Israelis and Palestinians, many point out that disputes are chiefly about nationality and territorial claims.
“You would hope the realization of the similarities between these religions would cause more harmony and less strife, but the whole issue comes down to land and not so much religion or holy observances,” Metz said.
Diplomacy between Palestine and Israel has been an ongoing issue for decades as the UN and several countries attempt to mediate and come to agreements. Although there are disputes that often lead to confrontations, peaceful short-term solutions are needed in order to provide relief during increased conflict.