Terrorists in West Bank Declare Start of Third Intifada
by JNS.org
Tensions continued to run high in the West Bank over the weekend as more than 10,000 Palestinians rallied in Hebron to celebrate Hamas’ 25th anniversary. Additional protests were held in Nabi Salih, Bil’in, Qalandia and Beitunia.
The commander of the Israel Defense Forces’ Judea and Samaria Division, Maj. Gen. Hagai Mordechai, arrived on scene for the Hebron protest.
Last week, a clash between an IDF patrol and a stone-throwing mob in the West Bank ended in the soldiers’ retreat, and video footage of the event was circulated rapidly throughout Palestinian social media outlets.
Meanwhile, a Palestinian terrorist group comprised of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and PLO members in Hebron posted a video declaring the beginning of the third Intifada. The group threatened to kidnap IDF soldiers and carry out attacks on Israelis in response to IDF activity.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday commented on the Hamas protests over the weekend, saying, “With the approval of [Palestinian Authority President] Abu Mazen, [Hamas] called for the destruction of Israel and the expulsion of Jews from Jerusalem and from every point in the State of Israel.”