Netanyahu points to Iran's role in recent attacks on Israelis
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that Iran "encourages, directs and finances" the current wave of attacks in the country. "We are working day and night to stop the murderers and those who try to kill Israeli citizens," he added from Hebron, where on Monday a 40-year-old Israeli woman was killed in an attack claimed by the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an armed Palestinian group linked to Fatah.
The woman was travelling in a car with her 12-year-old daughter, who was unharmed, and the driver of the vehicle, who is in a serious condition. Israeli security forces have already arrested two suspects in Hebron in connection with the terrorist attack.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the site of the terrorist attack near Hebron, together with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi and ISA Director Ronen Bar.
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) August 21, 2023
Further information >>https://t.co/iU3kynhFi9 pic.twitter.com/GNIJi7YUrr
This attack comes shortly after two Israelis, a 60-year-old man and his 28-year-old son, were killed last weekend in an armed attack at a gas station in the Palestinian town of Huwara. Both Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad praised the attack as "heroic" and "a natural response to the crimes of the occupation". The terrorist group that rules the Gaza Strip has also hailed the death of the 40-year-old Israeli mother of three.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, an Israeli who mistakenly entered the West Bank Palestinian town of Turmus Ayya was attacked by local residents - who set fire to his car - and had to be rescued by the Israeli army.
From the southern West Bank city of Hebron, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant also highlighted Iran's role in the current wave of attacks against Israelis. Gallant referred to "a significant change that is taking place on the ground, which is related to Iranian funding and the proliferation of weapons under Iranian directive". "Iran seeks every means to harm Israeli citizens," he added.
Netanyahu: Iran funding terror wave in Israel | https://t.co/e5o4domdys
— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) August 21, 2023
Video in Hebrew. Full article linked above. #terror #shooting #Hebron #WestBank pic.twitter.com/UD1ZZTPAg3
Iran has for years backed Palestinian terrorist organisations such as Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and even boasts of increasing its threats against Israel through its partners in the region, such as Palestinian militias in the West Bank and Gaza, pro-Tehran armed groups in Syria or Hezbollah in Lebanon. Likewise, pro-regime Iranian media have welcomed the latest attacks against Israelis in the West Bank, as well as the wave of violence in the area.
However, Iran's attempt to increase attacks, arms smuggling and incidents in the West Bank has fuelled an increase in violence over the past year, notes Seth Frantzman, a Middle East security analyst, in The Jerusalem Post.
Frantzman notes that since November, "an avalanche of weapons" has been documented through social media accounts and other means showing the types of rifles and firearms used by Palestinian terrorists.
This increase in threats coincides with mass protests in Israel against the Netanyahu government's controversial judicial reform. These demonstrations, as well as the internal division in the country, have been perceived as a symbol of weakness by Israel's enemies, who are taking advantage of this situation to increase their attacks.
"Israel hopes that the recent terrorist attacks in the West Bank are just the beginning, as the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas appears emboldened by internal divisions within Israel," the Israeli newspaper notes.
Even the head of the Israeli forces' Central Command, Yehuda Fox, has admitted that the country is in the midst of "an escalation of terror the likes of which we have not seen in a long time". As a result, the IDF spokesman has announced that IDF (Israel Defence Forces) units in the West Bank will be reinforced.
In response to the recent attacks, there have been increased raids in the area. Also, in the early hours of last night, the Israeli air force attacked Iranian Revolutionary Guard weapons depots at Damascus International Airport, a recurrent point used by Tehran to send weapons to Palestinian militias.
Deadliest year in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since 2005
This year, Israel and the West Bank are experiencing a worrying increase in violence. According to UN figures, more than 200 Palestinians and nearly 30 Israelis have been killed so far in 2023 in military operations, attacks and other incidents. These figures represent the highest death toll since 2005 in the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"Palestinians and Israelis are killed and injured in violence on an almost daily basis. Even just hours before this briefing, another deadly attack killed an Israeli in the West Bank," UN Middle East envoy Tor Wennesland said from Jerusalem during a briefing to the Security Council on Monday.
Wennesland highlighted "the lack of progress towards a political horizon", leaving a "dangerous" vacuum for extremists on both sides. "We are a far cry from the sentiments that prevailed when the Oslo Accord was signed 30 years ago on 19 August," added Wennesland, who has condemned violence against civilians.
