fbpx

Over 108 People Injured in “Day of Rage” Protests

[additional-authors]
December 7, 2017
A Palestinian protester prepares to burn a U.S. flag during clashes with Israeli troops at a protest against U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, near the Jewish settlement of Beit El, near the West Bank city of Ramallah December 7, 2017. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman

Over 108 people have been injured in what’s known as “Day of Rage” protests in response to President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to start the process of moving the United States embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the Palestine Red Crescent Society claimed they had treated over 108 people who were injured in various protests throughout the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Here is a snapshot of what the protests have looked like:

https://twitter.com/NoahPollak/status/938860282545242112

Additionally, a man in Beit Jalal drove his car into several other cars, wounding seven people and damaging 22 cars.

Israeli soldiers deployed rubber bullets and tear gas to clamp down on the protests.

More riots are expected to occur on Friday, as Hamas is calling for the “Intifada of Jerusalem and the West Bank’s Freedom” to occur on that day.

Hamas’ call for an intifada comes after three rockets were launched into Israel on Thursday from the Gaza Strip. Israel responded by bombing six Islamic Jihad and Hamas locations. The al-Qaeda affiliate Tawhid al-Jihad is saying that they’re the ones who fired the rockets into Israel.

Despite the violence and threats of further violence, the Trump administration is confident that the violence will subside and that the Palestinian Authority will realize that the only way they can achieve statehood is through a U.S.-facilitated peace deal.

“We know there will be short term pain, but in the long term, this action will help with those conversations,” a White House official told the Jerusalem Post.

Times of Israel Middle East analyst Avi Issachoroff noted that the Palestinian Authority is behind the protests.

“The Palestinian Authority and Fatah are organizing the rallies in the city centers, but a key question is whether the Palestinian security services will stop demonstrators from reaching the potential flashpoints,” wrote Issachoroff. “In light of the Palestinian-Arab-Muslim consensus against US President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem, PA security may receive orders not to step in to block protesters on their way to the checkpoints, except, perhaps, to prevent the use of firearms.”

The violence and threats of further violence is why some people have been critical of Trump’s decision on Jerusalem. Others argue that the move will eventually cause violence to decline because the Palestinians won’t be able to use violence as a means to extract Jerusalem from the Israelis in future negotiations.

Did you enjoy this article?
You'll love our roundtable.

Editor's Picks

Latest Articles

More news and opinions than at a
Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.