Israeli Forces Demolish Home of Palestinian Attacker

Israeli forces demolished the home of a Palestinian who killed several civilians in a deadly attack in October in East Jerusalem. The demolition took place on Wednesday, November 28, just hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to intensify security measures in response to the previous day's attack on a synagogue. According to the Associated Press, the attack on Tuesday at a synagogue in Jerusalem left five dead, marking the deadliest attack in the city since 2008, and occurred after several weeks of violent clashes over the Al-Aqsa Mosque between Muslims and Jews. The house that was demolished in the Silwan neighborhood near the Old City of Jerusalem belonged to Abdul Rahman al-Shaloudi, who last month killed two people by ramming a car into a crowded light rail station. On Tuesday, two Palestinians attacked a synagogue in the Har Nof neighborhood of West Jerusalem with a machete and firearms, killing four worshippers and a police officer. Both attackers were shot dead by police at the scene. In response to the Tuesday attack, Netanyahu stated, "The war over Jerusalem has reached its peak, but Israel's victory in it is certain." He emphasized that he had ordered security forces to act with severity against Palestinians who commit violence against Israelis. Netanyahu also stated that he had instructed to resume the policy of demolishing the homes of these individuals, a punitive measure that had previously faced criticism. Abdul Rahman al-Shaloudi's grandmother, standing in front of the ruins of her family's home on Wednesday, expressed pride in her grandson's actions. She, fearing retaliation, declined to give her full name and added, "No one should express sympathy for us and our destroyed home." The tactic of home demolition has been a common method used by Israeli security forces in recent years. Security officials later deemed it an ineffective method and halted its implementation in 2005. Meanwhile, worshippers returned on Wednesday to pray at the synagogue where the attack occurred, named "Kilat Bnai Torah." The four worshippers killed in the synagogue attack were from English-speaking countries, three from the United States and one from Britain, who had immigrated to Israel. In recent weeks, Jerusalem has witnessed the most severe violence since the Palestinian uprising a decade ago. In Abdul Rahman al-Shaloudi's car attack at the train station, a three-month-old baby and a 22-year-old woman were killed. He was also shot dead by police. The Associated Press further notes that the root of much of this violence stems from tensions and disputes over contested sites in the Old City of Jerusalem. Jews regard this site as the location of the ancient Jewish temple, while for Muslims, it is known as the Noble Sanctuary and the Al-Aqsa Mosque with its famous golden dome. Palestinians are angered by the increasing number of Israeli visitors to this site, with many considering this action provocative. Pope Francis, the leader of Catholics worldwide, condemned the recent attacks as "unacceptable" and called for both Israelis and Palestinians to courageously take steps toward peace. He expressed deep concern over the "alarming increase in tensions" in the Holy Land. In this context, at least four were killed following the attack by two Palestinians on a synagogue in Jerusalem, and Friday prayers in Jerusalem were held "calmly and without age restrictions." Unrest in the West Bank followed Hamas's call.