Israeli injured after Palestinian hurls explosive at Bethlehem holy site

An explosive was thrown at Rachel's Tomb, causing injuries to one man, who was evacuated to hospital by paramedics.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
IDF troops on duty near Bethlehem (photo credit: Udi Gal)
IDF troops on duty near Bethlehem
(photo credit: Udi Gal)
Palestinians hurled two improvised grenades at Israelis in Bethlehem on Monday evening in two attacks, injuring one civilian.
An explosive was thrown at Rachel's Tomb, causing injuries to one man, who was evacuated to hospital by paramedics. Earlier, an explosive was thrown at an IDF base in the area. No injuries were reported in that attack.
Monday's events are the latest indication that Palestinian violence is on the rise, though Israeli policymakers and defense experts remain doubtful that we are on the cusp of a third intifada.
Last week, news outlets learned of a secret report by one of the Palestinian Authority security services which paints a worrying picture of a possible upsurge in terrorist attacks in the West Bank this year.
The report, which was obtained by the Hebrew news website Ynet, warns that there is a high probability of a third intifada if the current Israeli-Palestinian peace talks fail.
PA officials in Ramallah said they were unaware of the existence of such a report.
According to Ynet, the report recommends that the Palestinian civilian authorities and the security forces draw up a plan to deal with any escalation in demonstrations.
The report cautioned that failure of the peace talks would lead to a rise in “spontaneous attacks” in 2014. The authors of the report – according to Ynet – believe that Hamas will change its strategy and shift to resources away from its civilian programs to covertly resume its militant activity in the West Bank.
The report claims that the first goal of Hamas and Islamic Jihad and other radical Palestinian groups is to kidnap an IDF soldier or civilian and hold him hostage in the West Bank, with the hope of exchanging him for Palestinian prisoners.
The report also reflects fears of the PA security forces that terror cells will expand their activities into the Israeli- controlled Area C of the West Bank, as well as the suburbs of Jerusalem.