|
Trending Topics
|
Intelligence Report: West Bank Stabilized, Gaza on Edge
(Jerusalem Post) Yonah Jeremy Bob - After a spike in violence following President Trump's recognition of Jerusalem in December, the West Bank has stabilized, but Gaza remains on edge, a Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center report says. It also contends that PA President Abbas and his Fatah movement have indirectly supported some of the wave of violence against Israelis, calling it "popular resistance." The report cites the Palestinian Authority's custom of paying funds to terrorists who attacked Israelis, seen as "martyrs" - naming locations after them, undertaking honorary visits to family members, hospitalization and burial services, and giving speeches honoring them - as helping to create an atmosphere for violence. While in 2016 there were 134 serious violent incidents, in 2017 there were only 82. However, 18 Israelis were killed in 2017 compared to 17 in 2016. 31 rockets were fired at Israel in 2017, including 22 from Gaza and 9 from Sinai. 15 rockets were fired at Israel in 2016.