Ramallah: Israeli colonists attacked on Monday a Palestinian resident of occupied East Jerusalem and seriously wounded him near the colony of Giv’at Ze’ev which is located just inside the eastern part of the Holy City.
The victim who works for a petrol station in the colony was approached by three young Israelis who attacked him without provocation.
According to Fakhri Abu Diab, a member of the Higher Committee in Defense of (occupied) Jerusalem, the Palestinian victim from the family of Soyouri works at the petrol station in the colony and this petrol station is the only separation between the Palestinian area of the victim’s home neighborhood and the Israeli colony of Giv’at Ze’ev. “The attack was a hate crime,” he told Gulf News.
Palestinains in remote areas or those who work late at night are easy targets for colonists looking for trouble.
These colonists often have served either in the regime’s military or the police force and are well trained for combat, according to Abu Diyab.
Israeli authorities have banned visits to the hospital in which Soyouri is staying at, so activists had very little information of the condition of the victim.
Mazen Abu Qalbain, a political activist in occupied east Jerusalem said that the Soyouri case is yet another example of the Israeli regime’s intent on inciting violence against Palestinians in Occupied Jerusalem.
“The Israeli leadership is thirsty for the blood of Palestinians in Jerusalem,” he told Gulf News.
In an indication of their intentions, the Israeli regime has been training its citizens in the art of combat, according to Abu Qalbain.
“The situation in Occupied Jerusalem is on the verge of explosion,” he said. “Israel’s stupidity is embarassing its own allies. Even a delegation from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was kicked out of a condolence ceremony for Uday and Ghassan Abu Jamal,” he said referring to the two Palestinians who attacked a synagogue last week killing five worshippers before themselves being killed.
Observers believe that the Israeli regime is purposely turning the political conflict into a religious one by its intrusions over the past few months on Al Haram Al Sharif which is under the custodianship of the Jordanian government. Jews are insisting to worship on the grounds which has sparked angry and emotional reactions from Palestinians and Muslims across the country. In addition to its incitement at Al Haram Al Sharif, colonist attacks on Palestnians have been on the rise, with a Palestinian father of two found tortured and hanged in his bus last week as well mosques being torched and tyres being slashed.
Israel also has kept making new announcements of colonist expansion projects in occupied East Jerusalem, which Palestinians want as the capital of their future state.
“A political solution is urgently needed, but the Israeli leadership does not intend to adhere to one,” Abu Qalbain said.
Meanwhile, two girl students from the ABu Sinana family were attacked by a group of colonists near Silwan while they were on their way home from school.
Two young Palestinians from the Al Wahdan family were also attacked by colonists near Al Misrara. “Attacks on Palestinians has increased ten-fold from three months ago,” said Abu Diyab. “The situation is extremely dangerous,” he warned.
