Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Monday sought to douse both the political fires and violent clashes that raged in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah in the aftermath of the firebombing of a Jewish home there on Friday. “The situation in which Jewish homes are set alight in Israel’s capital city is intolerable,” he said moments before boarding a plane to Bahrain.Bennett was silent about the violence against Palestinian residents of the neighborhood.There is a long history of attacks against both Palestinian and Jewish residents there, which has left both sides calling for increased security.
The pending eviction of Palestinian families from Sheikh Jarrah due to long-standing real-estate disputes has increased tensions among residents, with the international community and the Palestinian Authority accusing Israel of attempting to ethnically cleanse the neighborhood.Prior to departing for Bahrain, Bennett held security consultations with the Israel Police, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and Public Security Minister Omer Bar Lev (Labor). Israeli security officials are concerned the violence in Sheikh Jarrah could have a ripple effect in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.Religious Zionist Party MK Itamar Ben-Gvir has said the beleaguered neighborhood lacks an effective police presence. To call for better protection for its Jewish residents, on Sunday he symbolically opened a makeshift office outside near the home of the Yoshvayev family, whose house was firebombed while they were away. Ben-Gvir’s tent and folding table were also outside the Palestinian Salem family’s home, which could be slated for demolition next month. On Sunday night, police attempted to take down his tent.מוחמד חמאדה, דובר חמאס במזרח ירושלים: "מזהירים מפני מעשים מוגזמים אלה, שהם בבחינת משחק במערומי נפץ שיתפצוצו בפרצופה של ישראל. בגלל ירושלים, פלסטין כולה תעלה באש"@JackyHugi https://t.co/6cIoipFMTV
— גלצ (@GLZRadio) February 13, 2022
JOINT LIST MKs Ofer Cassif and Ahmed Tibi also took part in the clashes on Sunday evening, with video from the scene showing the MKs brawling with right-wing protesters and former Jerusalem deputy mayor Aryeh King.
Bennett took issue, however, with the actions of opposition politicians from the right-wing Religious Zionist Party and from the left-wing Joint List. He accused those politicians of exploiting the situation for their own benefit.“We do not need provocateurs to come and set the area ablaze just for political goals,” Bennett said. “We need neither Ofer Cassif, nor Ben-Gvir, nor Tibi to run Jerusalem for us,” he said. “We will deal with it, and we will bring stability and security for the residents of the city. This is the responsibility of the government of Israel and nobody else. “The Israel Police has increased the level of security, and it will take care to secure all residents of the city even in sensitive neighborhoods; it is already in the process.”Defense Minister Benny Gantz (Blue and White) said Ben-Gvir’s actions were harming the State of Israel and urged him to let security forces do their job and not to “incite violence.” This “is not a game; it’s about human life,” he said.Ben-Gvir said he planned to stay the course. “Until they install proper security measures for Shimon HaTzadik, my office will continue its operations” next to the Yoshvayev home, Ben-Gvir said.
PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY officials on Monday said Israel was seeking to “seize” properties belonging to Palestinian residents of Jerusalem. PA President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the “settler violence” in Sheikh Jarrah and said the PLO leadership would meet soon to discuss the situation in Jerusalem. Abbas warned that Israel’s actions in the city would have serious repercussions.
