The International Community Again Oblivious to Ongoing Jihadist Violence and Terrorism Against Israeli Citizens

Israel, our strongest ally in the Middle East, is facing yet another episode of jihadist violence and terrorism against its innocent citizens.

Since October 1, 2015, Palestinian terrorists have carried out more than two dozen gun and knife attacks, killing at least ten Israelis and wounding several others. While most attacks appear to be carried out by random Palestinians, the timing and modus operandi of the attacks show that they are concerted acts of terrorism.

The recent escalation of tensions began on October 1 when two Israeli parents and their four children were attacked by a Palestinian terrorist organization. The family was traveling through the West Bank on Thursday afternoon when a passing car opened fire on them, killing the parents and wounding the children.

Two days later, Rabbi Nehemia Lavi and Aharon Banita were killed near Lion’s Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem. Banita, his wife and his two-year old son were walking down the street when they were stabbed by a Palestinian terrorist. Rabbi Lavi heard the screams and rushed out to help when he was also stabbed. The terrorist then shot at the Border Police who arrived at the scene shortly after the attack began. The police returned fire and killed the terrorist.

On October 4th, Faid Aloon, a resident of East Jerusalem, stabbed an Israeli teen, Moshe Malka, outside of the Old City of Jerusalem near Damascus Gate. Hamas bragged that Aloon had expressed his intent to become a martyr on his Facebook page.

On October 7th, Tamer Yunes Ahmed Varidat, a West Bank resident, got off of a bus and stabbed an Israeli man, wounding him badly. The same day, an 18-year-old female Palestinian stabbed a 35-year-old Israeli at the Damascus gate of the Old City. In yet another attack on the same day, a Palestinian man, Amjad al Jundi, from the West Bank, boarded the 369 Metropolitan bus and started attacking the passengers. After the driver stopped the bus and the passengers fled, Jundi attacked a soldier, stabbed him, and stole his service rifle. He then entered Liat Ohana’s apartment building, burst into her apartment on the third floor and attempted to stab her, but she fled. Officers came to the apartment and found Jundi barricaded in Ohana’s apartment. After speaking to the officers, he opened the door and stuck his gun through the slot, resulting in officers shooting him. He died later from his wounds.

October 17th brought a wave of attacks in Hebron. A border policewoman was attacked by a 16-year-old Palestinian female, who stabbed the policewoman with a knife near the Cave of the Patriarchs. The soldier then shot and killed the attacker. That night, an Israeli bus was firebombed in Samaria. The driver was moderately injured, but fortunately, the bus was empty of passengers at the time. Later on that same night, an Israel Defense Force (IDF) soldier was stabbed at a checkpoint in Hebron. The remaining soldiers shot the terrorist, wounding him severely. Also in the checkpoint in Kalandia, another IDF soldier was attacked by another terrorist. This terrorist as well was shot by other soldiers. The Palestinian terrorists continued to carry out fire bombings through Saturday night.

On October 18th, Muhannad Al-Okbi, an Arab citizen of Israel, stabbed an Israeli soldier at a bus station in Jerusalem. He grabbed the soldier’s weapon and started shooting, wounding 10 people in a bus station in Beersheeba. He attempted to flee, but was shot by police.

These attacks began immediately following Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’ declaration at the U.N. that it was breaking the Oslo Accords – the decades-old peace plan with Israel.

These attacks have been carried out by Palestinians using their old tactics, i.e., posing as ordinary civilians and hiding in plain sight. While Hamas has called these cowardly attacks as “heroic actions,” the international organizations, that rush to condemn Israel, have not condemned Palestinians as usual.

Our own U.S. State Department Spokesman, John Kirby, said last week that individuals on both sides are guilty of terrorism, i.e., Israel is guilty of terrorism. “Kirby further added that the administration has heard ‘credible reports’ of Israelis using excessive force to deal with the Palestinian attacks.” Such statements are not only outrageous but demeaning to Israel, the only State in the Middle East that actually does abide by international law.

At the ACLJ, we continue our multipronged strategy to defend our ally Israel from outrageous legal attacks for defending its citizens from terror at the U.N., in Congress, and before the International Criminal Court.