JERUSALEM — They seem to be on an upswing, but Palestinian attacks against Israelis are a continuous phenomenon.
For a summary of attacks since May 2016 and through July 2022, provided by the Israeli government, in English, you can look here.
A graphic display appears below. The first graph shows the incidence of attacks, and the second the incidence of Israeli casualties.
Israel is not passive. According to official Palestinian figures, more than 80 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank and east Jerusalem since January 2022.
Prominent events have included firing at a busload of soldiers, with pictures of a perforated front window, and the injury of the bus driver. Also the arrest of a suspicious Arab in Jaffa, who was found to be carrying a submachine gun and other weapons in his bag. Apparently he would be targeting a crowd in Tel Aviv.
One incident produced a hiccup between U.S. and Israeli officials. It concerned the death of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was shot to death while covering an incident in Jeneen, West Bank on May 11. Israel dithered for a long while, questioning whether an Israeli soldier or a Palestinian bullet was responsible for her death.
America became involved on account of the U.S. citizenship held by Abu Akleh.
The U.S. Department of State has said that independent investigators could “not reach a definitive conclusion” regarding the origin of the bullet that killed her, but said Israeli military gunfire was “likely responsible” for her death.
Israel has acknowledged the likelihood of responsibility, but has rejected State Department calls for an improvement in its use for deadly fire.
The case reflects the problem of journalists, concerned to cover ongoing violence, and unable to assure their safety when groups are firing at one another.
Most of the Israeli casualties have been those injured.
And it’s hard to discern how much organization is involved in the violence. Much seems to be the work of individuals, usually young men in their teens or twenties. Often small groups. Sometimes relatives work together. And spurred by Palestinian propaganda, and the promise of funds to the families of those killed.
Most of the recent violence has originated in the West Bank. Occasionally done by Israeli Arabs, but mostly by Palestinians. An uptick from Gaza revealed a split in the Palestinian community. Hamas, which nominally controls Gaza, seemed to be quiet, while Islamic Jihad was active.
That produced Israeli efforts to target Islamic Jihad, and a shutdown of the borders, which has seen some 15,000 Gazans entering Israel for daily work. That’s a significant addition to Gaza’s economy, and helps explain the posture of Hamas. In cooperation with Egypt, working to quiet things.
And on top of everything, the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Israeli coverage was more prominent than anything local. It reminded us of our place in the Empire, or on its edge, as a British Mandate, established by the League of Nations.
Israelis are likely to credit the three decades of British rule as contributing greatly to Israel’s democracy. And some who recall the antipathy, and the violence between Jews and Britons, leading to Independence. All of which was part of the weakening of the Empire, due to World War II, and the departure of Britain from India, Africa, and the Middle East.
The Queen never visited Israel. She did come to Jordan. Apparently kept from Israel by the British Foreign Office, worried about an Arab response. However, her husband, sons, and grandson have visited. She was good to Britain’s Jews. Her history is part of our mixed picture.
As a woman of 96, it may not be appropriate to actually mourn her passing. But to remember her longevity, her greatness, what’s said to be her contributions to keeping Britain safe and democratic over the course of a sometimes difficult 70 years.
An English friend doubts all that, and sees the Monarchy as an icon, devoid of any power, and unable to manage its own family.
Hard to judge, given the outpouring of British feelings for the Queen and her 70 years somewhere close to the helm.
It’ll be difficult for Charles to fill her shoes, whatever they really were. His reputation is mixed. Britain is another European country, but its Monarchy is more prominent than any other feature of its greatness.
And here we’re up against the September 15 deadline to finalize the parties that will run for the Knesset in November. Lots of meetings, pressures, and maneuverings toward the alignment of this and that, or the decisions of this and that to run separately. Will it make a difference? By no means certain. Egos prevail.
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Ira Sharkansky, Ph.D., is professor emeritus of political science at Hebrew University. He may be contacted via ira.sharkansky@sdjewishworld.com