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Analysis

The Jewish Chronicle: There are no easy fixes, by Dr. Toby Greene

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Tuesday’s sickening attack marks a new peak in the growing tide of violence in Jerusalem. The murder of Arab teen Mohammed Abu Khdeir in July – revenge for the killing of three Israeli teens – was the principal trigger, and extremists on both sides challenging the status quo on Temple Mount (Haram-al-Sharif) have contributed to the tension.

The violence has generally taken two separate but linked forms. The first is riots by East Jerusalem youths. The second is increasingly frequent deadly attacks by individuals – sometimes linked to terror groups, but also, apparently, acting independently – using vehicles, knives and firearms.

Israel’s response has security and political dimensions. On security, there are limited new tools available given the already heightened measures in place, but the government is pouring uniformed personnel into the city.

The lone, lethal attackers, however, pose a particular challenge – invisible to intelligence and striking without warning. Israel is left with blunt tools of deterrence, including the renewed practice of demolishing perpetrators’ homes, which divides the security services as to its effectiveness.

Politically, Israel’s response is to blame Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for incitement, and with some justification. Unlike Hamas, or his predecessor, Yasser Arafat, Mr Abbas does not directly call for or organise terrorism, and crucially, his security forces continue to prevent widespread disturbances in the West Bank.

Read the article in full at The Jewish Chronicle.