Survey in Israel: Current Situation Worse than During the Intifada

Six months after street violence between Israel and Palestinians, a recent survey shows that 51% of Israelis consider the situation "worse than the Second Intifada," and 53% say their sense of personal security has vanished. Although Israeli leaders do not officially label this period as an "Intifada," the majority of Israelis have stated that the current conditions represent "an Intifada worse than the previous two." According to a report by Wynet, most Israelis are significantly more concerned about being attacked on the street by Palestinians, including knife attacks, than they were during the "Second Intifada." The "Second Intifada," or "Al-Aqsa Intifada," occurred from 2000 to 2005, during which dozens of suicide bombings took place in public places, including restaurants and buses in various cities, especially Jerusalem. Despite the fact that during the five years of the "Second Intifada," 1,000 Israelis and 3,000 Palestinians were killed, the current crisis has heightened fears of being targeted, which has made Israelis more anxious than before. According to a new survey published on Friday, April 1, 56% of Israelis avoid using public transport and going to public places due to fear of being targeted. The Haaretz newspaper also reported on Sunday, April 3, that although there has seemingly been a reduction in street attacks and stabbings in recent weeks, there is still serious concern about the continuation and even worsening of this situation. The new crisis began six months ago on the eve of the Hebrew holiday when a group of Jewish extremists entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem to visit the "Temple Mount" and faced severe anger from Palestinians. The defining feature of the past six months of crisis has been knife attacks on passersby in various locations, with victims ranging from 13-year-old children to 80-year-old seniors, most of whom have been injured. Israeli media report that their death toll is 34; Agence France-Presse states that the number of Israeli fatalities is 29; the remaining casualties include foreigners, including two American tourists. In Hebron, the highest number of knife attacks has been carried out by Palestinian girls and boys against Israeli soldiers. More than 50 Palestinians have been killed in Hebron alone during knife attacks. 130 of the 206 Palestinians killed in the recent crisis were either in the act of stabbing or were shot moments after; 70 Palestinians were also killed during protests. Running over Israelis with vehicles in streets and roads is another tactic used by Palestinians who know they will be killed in immediate response by armed Israelis; there have been 42 such attacks in the past six months. The oldest Palestinian killed on suspicion of attempting to run over soldiers in Hebron was a 76-year-old grandmother and the former wife of a Hamas casualty from 25 years ago; her family claimed that the road was slippery due to rain and she did not intend to run anyone over; however, the response of soldiers and other armed Israelis to anyone they suspect is very swift, leaving no opportunity to reflect on the realities that have occurred. Almost all Palestinian attackers in the "Knife Intifada" are teenagers, aged from 13 to 19, although sometimes older age groups and a few officers from the Palestinian Authority have also been among the attackers. According to Wynet, there have been 211 instances of knife attacks motivated by nationalism during this period. Ten days ago, two Palestinians attacked an Israeli soldier in Hebron with knives, injuring him; one of the Palestinians was killed on the spot, and the other was injured. Six minutes later, when the threat was neutralized, a soldier suddenly arrived and shot the injured one in front of dozens of other soldiers and commanders at the scene. The recent crisis has severely impacted the lives of both Israelis and Palestinians, and Israelis in cities like Jerusalem are going to public places less frequently. The right-wing Israeli government, which has halted political negotiations with the Palestinians for years, accuses Palestinian media and officials of inciting this violence. However, Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of the Palestinian Authority, recently stated in an interview with Israel's Channel 2 that Palestinian security forces inspect Palestinian students' bags daily to ensure they do not carry any cold weapons. In this interview, aired on Thursday, April 1, Abbas mentioned that "seventy knives" were found during a school inspection. Mahmoud Abbas emphasized that efforts for peace must be resumed to break the deadlock, but "the Israeli government is not serious about peace." According to the Palestinian Authority leader, Benjamin Netanyahu is unwilling to meet and "does not abandon his long-standing habit of blaming Palestinians." Netanyahu claims he is willing to meet at any time and place.