Brutal Attack on Israeli Journalists Depicts Rise in Terror

A brutal attack against two Israeli journalists is indicative of the sharp rise in Palestinian-Arab violence.

The near-lynching of two Israeli journalists near Ramallah on Thursday was among the latest incidents demonstrating the rise in terror emanating from the Palestinian-administered territories.

Palestinian Arabs clash with Israeli security forces outside Ofer prison in the village of Betunia on Friday. (Photo: Issam Rimawi/Flash90)

As reported on Arutz-7-Israel National News, the journalists, employed by Hebrew news site Walla, were covering a riot by Palestinian Arabs near the Ofer prison, in the village of Betunia west of Ramallah, when a mob surrounded and beat them. They were rescued by Palestinian Authority security forces and transferred to the IDF.

The incident occurred following a day of clashes between the IDF and Palestinian “Nakba Day” protests, which became violent and ended with two rioters dying of wounds after being shot by IDF troops.

(Nakba is Arabic for “catastrophe,” referring to the creation of the State of Israel. It is observed annually by anti-Israel Arabs on May 15.)

Rise in Terror Directly Linked to Peace Talks

In March, Jewish residents of Jerusalem suffered 157 terror-related incidents in the month of March, according to a survey cited on IDF Radio.

“On average, Palestinian Arabs attack a Jewish Israeli 2.5 times per day each month; the number of attacks per month has not dipped below 80 since November 2012,” Arutz-7 reports.

Palestinian Arabs burn an Israeli flag at Damascus Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem, marking the 66th anniversary of the “Nakba,” – the “catastrophe” of the Jewish State’s creation. (Photo: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

“The attack rate is highest near Jewish holy sites, the survey shows, including the City of David near Silwan, Jerusalem’s Old City, and the Mount of Olives. Eighty percent of attacks include throwing projectiles, and of those, two percent are firebombs or Molotov cocktails; most attacks do not cause injuries or damage.”

The rise in terror attacks is directly linked to the peace talks, a Shin Bet study revealed in December, according to INN, which cited a report in Maariv pointing to the “resumed peace talks between Israel and the PA” as the “cause” of the increased violence.

“Senior defense officials confirmed to the daily [Maariv] that the PA-Israel talks have contributed to the upswing, along with internal unrest in the PA and passive encouragement to the Arab population to stage a ‘popular uprising.’”

Most Anti-Semitic Place on Earth: Palestinian-Administered Territories

A recent survey conducted the the U.S.-based Anti-Defamation League revealed that the most anti-semitic place in the world is the Palestinian Authority-run territories.

On Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remarked at the weekly Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem:

“Last week, the Anti-Defamation League issued a global report in which it compared levels of anti-Semitism among adults in various places around the world. It seems that the place with the highest level of anti-Semitism is the Palestinian Authority, where 93% of adults hold anti-Semitic views. This is the result of the Palestinian Authority’s unceasing incitement, which distorts the image of the State of Israel and the Jewish People, as we have known in other places in our past. This finds expression in the fact that they hold parades to commemorate what they call the Nakba. They define the existence and establishment of the State of Israel as a disaster that must be corrected. This also finds expression in the increased activity that the Palestinians are allowing in Judea and Samaria for Hamas, which directly and openly calls for our destruction.”

“Whoever sees the establishment of the State of Israel and its continued existence as a disaster does not want peace,” Netanyahu declared.

Written by: United with Israel Staff

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