Israel Weekly News Roundup April 7 2023
5 Things you need to know
Severe Security Deterioration Between Israel and Gaza: Tens of rockets were fired from Gaza towards southern Israel in the last few days, causing damage to a factory and a house and causing people to seek shelter in the middle of the night during the Jewish Passover holiday. The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) identified Hamas as responsible for the deterioration and retaliated attacking targets in the Gaza Strip. This kind of security deterioration is common from time to time, but this time it is part of a slow but meaningful security deterioration between Israel and the Palestinians. This time the composition of the Israeli government is based on right-wing and extreme right parties who, in the run up to elections, promised aggressive responses to any security threats. It is still unclear if this will lead to a major military campaign in Gaza. Hamas is trying to portray itself as the main protector of the Muslim holy places in Jerusalem, and many times ignites the discourse.
Severe Security Escalation in the Northern Border Between Israel and Lebanon: Tens of rockets were fired by Hezbollah forces in Lebanon towards northern Israel on Thursday, causing some minor injuries and damages in a few towns. Israeli military forces retaliated against targets in southern Lebanon. This incident may deteriorate to a military campaign, although no major actor is willing to initiate such an event. Lebanon is in a severe economic and political crisis.
Earlier this week: The Conflict Between Israel-Iran-Syria Intensified: Israel conducted a few military air strikes in Syria, including the capital Damascus. On the other hand, an unmanned aircraft penetrated northern Israel airspace earlier this week and was shot down by the Israeli army. It is still unclear whether this was an Iranian or Syrian aircraft. It is also unclear whether it entered Israel on a mission or by accident. Either way, this is a marked escalation in the already high tension between Israel and Iran. Israel has declared time and again that it will not tolerate any Iranian military forces and activities near its borders. On the other hand, Iranian military forces are active inside Syria and Iran is arming Syrian President Assad’s military forces.
Violent Clashes Between Israeli Police and Muslim Worshipers at Jerusalem’s Al Aqsa Mosque Disrupt Relative Calm at Holy Site: Nine days into the holy month of Ramadan, violent clashes occurred after police broke into the Al Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount, where some 350 worshippers closed the doors, threw stones and launched fireworks at the police.
The clashes erupted on the night of Passover eve and continued for two days in a row. At least six Palestinians were injured in clashes with police, and a Palestinian boy was shot and injured in the Old City by a Jewish resident. The shooter was held for questioning by police.
Analysts claim that the violence came after nine days of relative calm, since the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan. A relative calm, disrupted by the shooting and killing of a young Arab man by police, during the Ramadan prayers in the Old City of Jerusalem. While police claimed that the young man attacked the policemen, no video footage corroborates their version.
What fueled the violence at Al Aqsa mosque, according to analysts, were attempts by Jewish Temple Mount zealots to sacrifice a young goat, in attempts to resurrect the biblical Passover sacrifice.
The dispersal of the Muslim worshipers from the Al Aqsa Mosque was harshly criticized by senior Jordanian and Palestinian officials, as well as by prominent leaders worldwide. Jordan’s foreign ministry confirmed Jordan’s call to assemble the Arab League in order to stop “Israeli violations that are a flagrant violation to international humanitarian law.” The statement also said that dispersal of worshippers aims to “alter the historical and legal status of Jerusalem.” The Arab League confirmed it would hold an emergency meeting regarding the police raid on the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the United States was "extremely concerned by the continuing violence and we urge all sides to avoid further escalation".
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was "shocked and appalled" by the images of Israeli security forces beating people at the mosque, at such a holy time for Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
West Bank and Gaza Crossings Closed for Passover: As Jews, in Israel and around the world, celebrate Passover, crossings between the West Bank, Gaza and Israel will be closed from Passover eve until April eighth, and then closed again for the second holiday of Passover, in the middle of next week. The closure will be lifted after the Passover holiday, to allow Muslims to enter Jerusalem for prayer at Al Aqsa mosque during the holy month of Ramadan.
On Passover eve, millions of Jewish Israelis gathered to celebrate the high holiday which marks the exodus of the children of Israel from Egypt, and their liberation from slavery. The holiday, marked by abstention from the consumption of “hametz”, which includes leavened wheat-based goods, is a reminder of the journey through the desert, where Israelites had no time to let the dough rise in order to bake bread for the journey. In compliance, most businesses do not sell or serve “hametz”, and supermarkets, grocery and convenience stores cover all “hametz” goods for the duration of the holiday.
Shortly before Passover, the Knesset passed the hametz ban in hospitals law, which allows hospital security guards to search through visitors’ bags in search of forbidden foods and drinks which are not kosher for consumption during Passover.
Hundreds of Thousands of Israelis Went to the Streets to Continue the Protest Against the Judicial Overhaul for the Thirteenth Week in a Row: Despite the pause in the legislative process, and despite the talks between the coalition and opposition representatives at President Herzog’s House, there was no pause in the demonstrations. Hundreds of thousands are participating in the weekly demonstrations at more than 150 towns, road junctions and cities all over the country. The main event was in Tel Aviv (Kaplan Street). In addition, protesters go to focused demonstrations outside the homes of ministers and in public places where the ministers appear, and shout at them “Shame” and “Democracy” and interfere in their events.
For further reading:
Gaza: Here, here, here, here, here, here
Lebanon&Syria: Here, here, here Here, here, here, here
Al Aqsa: Here, here, here, here
