Arabs across Judea, Samaria and Arab areas of Jerusalem clashed with Israeli forces over the Sabbath, beginning Friday night and continuing on into Saturday over the deaths of an innocent baby and a 17-year-old terrorist.
Hamas ignited the violence with Friday’s declaration of a “Day of Rage” following clashes at the Temple Mount. At least one police officer was wounded in the riots from broken glass. Violent Arab “worshipers” who had been allowed to enter the site to pray hurled rocks, bottles and other projectiles at the officers. One arrest was made.
Another violent mob of Arab teens hurled rocks at the entrance to Qalandiya, near northern Jerusalem. Border Guard Police officers were called to the scene to disperse the riot with tear gas and other measures.
Arabs also rioted Friday in the eastern Jerusalem Arab neighborhood of Isawiya, hurling firebombs (Molotov cocktails) and rocks at Israel security forces. The mob was eventually moved back into the center of the neighborhood with crowd dispersal measures.
Highway 65 in Wadi Ara was blocked on Saturday by some 200 Arabs over the arson death in Duma of 22-month-old Ali Dawabsheh. His parents and brother were also seriously wounded as well. An eyewitness said four Jews were seen tossing a firebomb into the open window of the family’s small home and then fleeing. An IDF helicopter airlifted the victims to Tel HaShomer Hospital in Tel Aviv; IDF forces continue to scour the countryside in search of the perpetrators. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and government ministers have vowed to bring the arsonists to justice.
The protesters set fires near Ayn al-Sahla and waved Palestinian Authority flags, set fires, and when an Israeli police vehicle arrived on the scene, attacked the officers with rocks while yelling t them to bring the murderers to justice.
Israeli Arab Knesset members Jamal Zahalka and Yousef Jabareen – although not part of the road-block – were there as participants in the protest, according to Ynet.
Following the funeral for 17-year-old Leith Khalidi, Arab teens clashed with Israeli forces at Jelazoun Saturday afternoon. Khalidi was shot and killed after firebombing soldiers Friday night near Birzeit, north of Ramallah.
The violence was not limited to this past Sabbath, nor to Israeli forces: since the start of the previous Sabbath, 22 Jews were injured in 60 recorded terror attacks, compiled by the Hebrew-language HaKol HaYehudi website.
The attacks included firebombings, targeted fireworks, rock attacks, burned fields, bombings with explosive devices and firebomb attacks on Jewish homes.
