The Israeli Palestinian Conflict

Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (March 1-7, 2023)

This past week there was a shooting attack at the Beit Hagai Junction (south of Hebron); one Israeli was wounded. The Israeli security forces continued their counterterrorism activities, focusing on the Aqabat Jabr refugee camp near Jericho and detaining the terrorists who shot and killed an Israeli on February 27, 2023. During the activity one Palestinian was killed. Palestinians continued throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at Israeli vehicles driving on the roads in Judea and Samaria. The Gaza Strip remained relatively quiet. After several delays, the envoy from Qatar arrived to discuss the renewal of the Qatari donation of funds. The law for giving terrorists the death penalty, which passed its first vote in the Knesset, led to a series of strong condemnations in the Palestinian Authority (PA), including calls for a mass uprising and threats against Israel.
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The Use of Social Networks by the Palestinian Public – Facts and Assessments

iPoke, a company based in the Gaza Strip, issued its 2022 annual report examined the Palestinian public's consumption habits. One of the most important findings was that TikTok, Telegram and WhatsApp were the most popular apps, and were widely used by Palestinian society in general and by Palestinian youth in particular. The report also noted that the apps were used almost equally by both genders, but certain ones were used more by women than by men.
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Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (February 22-28, 2023)

This past week Palestinians carried out seven terrorist attacks in Judea and Samaria, killing three Israeli civilians: Fourteen Israelis have been killed since the beginning of the year. Following the shooting attack in Hawwara, Israeli settlers entered the town and burned Palestinian houses, public property and vehicles. The heightened tension resulted in an increase in the number of rocks and Molotov cocktails thrown at Israeli vehicles. Six rockets were launched at Israel from the Gaza Strip. Five were intercepted by Iron Dome aerial defense system and one fell in an open area. A political-security summit meeting was held by representatives from Egypt, Jordan, the United States, Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) in an effort to calm the situation.
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Reactions to the IDF Activity in Nablus (February 22, 2023)

On February 22, 2023, the Israeli security forces operated in Nablus to detain three wanted Palestinians. The activity developed into extensive riots and exchanges of gunfire. Eleven Palestinians were killed, most of them armed, and more than 100 were wounded. An examination of the names of the Palestinian fatalities revealed that six of them were Lion's Den operatives The unusually large operation was one the Israeli security forces' ongoing activities, mainly in northern Samaria, to prevent terrorist networks from carrying out attacks
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Spotlight on Terrorism and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (February 14-21, 2023)

This past week Palestinians carried out five terrorist attacks in Judea and Samaria. Two of the attacking Palestinians were aged 13 and 14. The Israeli security forces continued counterterrorism activities, detaining dozens of wanted terrorists. The PA security services detained two terrorist operatives in Nablus. The Gaza Strip remained relatively quiet. A number of demonstrations were held along the border. The Palestinians continue their political campaign against Israel.
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Children in the Service of Palestinian Terrorism: Security tensions, incitement in the social networks and favorable public reactions may influence more children to carry out terrorist attacks

During the past three weeks children between the ages of 13 and 14 carried out three terrorist attacks in Jerusalem, two stabbing attacks and one shooting attack. They were not extraordinary because in effect, since the latest wave of Palestinian terrorism began in 2022, we have witnessed adolescents and even children participating in clashes with Israeli security forces and carrying out terrorist attacks. However, their ages have recently decreased significantly. If in the past the attackers were adolescents and young adults aged 16 or more, today they are children barely in their teens. The attacks and young attackers have been widely praised, especially on the social networks popular with that age group, which may encourage other children to emulate them. As opposed to past instances, where organizations were found to have directed the children, apparently the most recent attacks were carried out by children acting independently. They were influenced by the growing tension in Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem, accompanied by strong, pervasive online incitement. The activities of individual children make it particularly difficulty for the Israeli security forces to have advance knowledge of their intentions and prevent the attacks. For the most part, Palestinian children grow up in a society that incites violence, and they absorb and are influenced by the general atmosphere in the Palestinian street, the anti-Israeli incitement in their textbooks and formal and informal educational environments, and particularly by the social networks. According to a survey conducted about Internet use in Judea, Samaria and east Jerusalem, TikTok is the platform watched most by children of the relevant ages. Formerly, internal criticism was heard in the Palestinian Authority (PA) and within Palestinian society of exploiting children for terrorist attacks. However, at the present time not only does the PA not appear to be taking effective steps against using children as terrorist
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