A wave of terror attacks has dominated Israeli headlines for two weeks. The attacks have become so intense that Israel is considering declaring a state of emergency to fight terrorism, according to Israel’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
Ram Ben Barak, Israel’s FADC Chairman, made the statement following weeks of terror attacks that have killed at least 11 people this past Monday.
“I appreciate that the police has known how to act with restraint and prevent deterioration,” the Chairman said. “There are two categories of terror: internal and Palestinian. Regarding Palestinian terror, we will not hold back any efforts, and the security forces are doing all that is required, including arrests under fire,” he continued.
The latest wave of terror attacks throughout Israel has been different. Of the four known terrorists involved, three of them were Arab-Israeli citizens. The fourth terrorist was an Arab resident from the West Bank.
Ben Barak went on to say, “Regarding terror originating from within the country, we have gotten to the point where we should weigh declaring a state of emergency for a period of time, to use emergency laws in order to eliminate the phenomenon. We should use administrative detention and stiffen sentences regarding incitement. The criminal, the nationalistic, and terror are mixing together. We must restore public order and sovereignty.”
According to Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, over 15 “serious attacks that were planned by terrorist elements in the West Bank and the rest of Israel” have been discovered and prevented.
Bennett said, “The last two weeks, in which we have been dealing with severe terrorist attacks, are a wake-up call for all of us.” He continued, “It seems to me that there is no citizen in the State of Israel who does not feel the massive reinforcement of the police and security forces in the country. For us, the feeling of security is a very, very important goal.”
If the recent terror threat wasn’t enough for Prime Minister Bennett and the Israeli government coalition, things became even more stressful on Wednesday with the abrupt resignation of former Yamina MK and coalition MK Idit Silman.
Israel’s governing coalition has lost its slim majority with Silman’s resignation. There have been many ideological clashes between Silman and left-wing party coalition members. The recent pressure from right-wing opposition was finally enough to make her crack, leading to Silam resigning.
Bennett said on Wednesday evening that “Silman was persecuted for months, verbally abused by supporters of opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu and Religious Zionist head Betzalel Smotrich at the most horrific level. She described to me the threats against her husband Shmulik’s workplace and her children in Bnei Akiva. She broke in the end.”
Right-wing NGOs and politicians organized a rally Wednesday following Silman’s resignation, a move that could be signaling the Bennett administration’s demise. Those in attendance at the rally cheered as Netanyahu took center stage in Jerusalem.
“We came to say one thing to this government: go home!” Netanyahu preached to the crowd. “Go home! Go home! You’re damaging Israel’s Jewish identity,” he continued. “Go home because you’re weak. You’re weak against Iran, and you’re weak against terrorism.”
The crowd was praised by Netanyahu, who said those in attendance came from all across Israel, sounding a call for unity from “secular and religious, north and south, from Judea and Samaria,” to bring a new government into power.
“We receive her with a big hug,” Netanyahu told the crowd, referring to Silman’s resignation. “People got up this morning with excitement, with light in their eyes,” he continued.
A sea of Israeli flags were waved by protestors at the rally. Several had posters displaying Netanyahu’s face. Chants of “We need a leader” and “With Bennett and Lapid, we have no future” could be heard for blocks around the rally.
Jeffrey Stevens is a Senior Writer with ThinkCivics News and a freelance journalist with The Jerusalem Post, focusing on the Vatican’s involvement in world politics. In addition, he is a published author and the founder of Gospel Grammar. Jeffrey is currently pursuing a second degree in theology from Aidan University in Jacksonville, Florida.
