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Palestinian Youth, Inspired by Social Media, Drive Rise in Violence in Israel
(New York Times) Jodi Rudoren - A cadre of young Palestinians, spurred on by social media, have independently decided to attack Israelis, killing seven and wounding scores in two dozen episodes since Oct. 1, authorities said. "What we see now is like an octopus with many hands but no brain," said Orit Perlov, an expert on Arab social media at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv. The current violence consists of outbursts by individuals unaffiliated with any formal political movement. These assailants live in communities that applaud those who have died, often without any mention of their own violent deeds. They are motivated by social media campaigns replete with glistening blades and how-to guides. "There's a viral nature to these attacks: One person goes out, they get killed, then they get glorified, it makes other people want to go out," said Daniel Nisman, president of the Levantine Group, an Israeli security analysis firm. "You have a significant number of people who are willing to basically commit suicide attacks."