Murder of Two Palestinian Youths on Suspicion of Attempting to Attack Israeli Soldiers

In the latest instance of violence between Israel and Palestinians, on the morning of Saturday, March 19, the son of a Palestinian security prisoner was shot dead by Israeli soldiers. Israeli media, citing security officials, claimed that Abdullah Ajlouni, a 20-year-old youth who allegedly approached several Israeli soldiers in Hebron in a 'suspicious manner,' 'intended to attack them.' Palestinian media reported that the deceased youth is the son of a Palestinian security prisoner who has been held for a long time by the Israeli internal security service without charges. On Friday, March 18, a 17-year-old Palestinian was also killed after approaching an Israeli military post in Hebron; Israeli officials confirmed that this teenager was also the only suspect in the area. Minutes later, two other Palestinian teenagers were arrested at the same location, with the Israeli army accusing them of 'attempting' to attack with a knife, but added that their attack had not been carried out. On Thursday, March 17, two Palestinian youths were killed after attacking an Israeli female soldier near the Jewish settlement of Ariel in the West Bank. In the six months of violence known as the 'Knife Intifada,' 29 Israelis and nearly 190 Palestinians have been killed; about two-thirds of the Palestinian fatalities were due to knife attacks, most of whom were teenagers and young adults aged 14 to 19. Gadi Eisenkot, the Chief of Staff of the Israeli army, stated last month that we should not 'empty a magazine on a Palestinian girl with a knife every morning and evening' and that attackers should be arrested. Despite this, the apparent policy of 'zero tolerance' towards Palestinians approaching Israelis, especially soldiers, or attacking them with cold weapons continues. Leaders of the Palestinian Authority say that while Israeli soldiers are equipped with various weapons, the immediate killing of attackers carrying cold weapons is a 'field execution' of Palestinian youths. Meanwhile, the Israeli NGO 'Breaking the Silence,' which interviews soldiers and officers about Israel's actions towards Palestinians, has faced severe criticism from the Prime Minister and the Minister of Military Affairs, with its members threatened with prosecution. Moshe Ya'alon has ordered the internal security service to investigate the members of this movement with the aim of bringing them to trial. Ya'alon expressed concern that soldiers and officers may have revealed 'military secrets.' However, this movement insists it opposes the policies of the Netanyahu government. In the midst of this violence, Cristiano Ronaldo, the famous footballer from Real Madrid, met with Ahmad Dawabsha, a five-year-old Palestinian boy whose father, mother, and brother were burned to death by extremist Jews in their home in the West Bank last summer. According to Al Jazeera, Ronaldo spoke for a few minutes with Ahmad Dawabsha and his grandfather, giving him a signed ball and sportswear. Ahmad Dawabsha was taken to a hospital in Spain for treatment of burns from the fire, and Israel has yet to arrest anyone for the crime against the Dawabsha family. On the other hand, the activities and life of a Palestinian teacher in the West Bank, who encourages the fight against violence, have recently made headlines. Despite decades of war and violence between Israel and Palestinians, Ms. Janan al-Hroub, a Palestinian teacher, teaches her Palestinian students to say no to violence. According to the Associated Press, Ms. al-Hroub, who grew up in Palestinian camps, recently won the one million dollar award for the best 'teacher in the world'; she had eight thousand competitors in this contest held in Dubai. Pope Francis also praised this young Palestinian teacher in a recent message. Upon returning from this competition to the West Bank, Ms. al-Hroub emphasized that with more enthusiasm than ever, she will continue her campaign to encourage students to be patient and tolerant towards others and will establish a scholarship for underprivileged Palestinian children from her prize money.