Israel revokes Ramadan permits for Palestinians after attack

[webfact]

Israel revokes Ramadan permits for Palestinians after attack
By DANIEL ESTRIN

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel on Thursday suspended most special permits for Palestinians to visit Israel during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, and beefed up police patrols in Tel Aviv, after two Palestinians carried out a shooting in Tel Aviv Wednesday night that killed four Israelis.

COGAT, an Israeli defense body, said 83,000 permits for Palestinians in the West Bank to visit relatives in Israel during Ramadan had been frozen. Israel considers the Ramadan permits a goodwill gesture toward Palestinians.

The special Ramadan permits were also suspended for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, including permits to visit relatives in Israel, travel abroad and attend prayers at the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, COGAT said.

In addition, the military has frozen Israeli work permits for 204 of the attackers' relatives, and is preventing Palestinians from leaving and entering the West Bank village of Yatta, the attackers' home village. COGAT said entering or leaving will only be permitted for humanitarian and medical cases.

In Tel Aviv, extra police units have been mobilized, mainly around the city's central bus station and train stations, said police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld. Israelis quickly returned to routine: the outdoor cafe area where the shooting took place was open to customers on Thursday morning.

Two Palestinians opened fire near a popular open-air market in central Tel Aviv on Wednesday night, killing four Israelis and wounding nine others, in one of the deadliest attacks in an eight-month wave of violence.

The shooting occurred at the Sarona market, a series of restored buildings that have been transformed into a popular tourist spot filled with crowded shops and restaurants. The complex is across the street from Israel's military headquarters and is often filled with tourists and young soldiers in uniform.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with his defense minister and security leaders shortly after the attack and then traveled to the scene. He called the attack a "cold blooded murder by despicable terrorists," according to a statement from his office.

Hamas, the Islamic militant group that rules Gaza, welcomed the attack but did not claim responsibility for it. Hamas official Mushir al-Masri called the shootings a "heroic operation" and the group later issued an official statement promising the "Zionists" more "surprises" during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.


-- (c) Associated Press 2016-06-09

[webfact]

Israeli options may be limited after Tel Aviv shooting
By JOSEF FEDERMAN
Jun. 9, 2016 4:00 PM EDT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel imposed travel restrictions Thursday on tens of thousands of Palestinians and sent hundreds of additional troops into the West Bank in response to a deadly shooting at a popular Tel Aviv tourist spot. But as the nation's leaders vowed tough responses, they stopped short of taking wider-scale military action.

The attack has presented Israel's newly configured Cabinet, and its firebrand new defense minister, with its first big test. A relatively muted response by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Security Cabinet reflected the lack of options that Israel seems to have as it grapples with a nine-month wave of violence.

The shooting, carried out by two West Bank Palestinians, was among the deadliest and most brazen attacks since violence erupted last September. Tel Aviv's Sarona district, a popular shopping and restaurant area, was packed with people enjoying a warm evening outdoors when it was targeted late Wednesday. Four people were killed.

After Thursday's Security Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu went to the site of the attack and said Israel would prevail in its struggle against Palestinian militants.

"This nation is strong. They will not defeat us," he said, accusing Palestinian leaders of failing to condemn the attack. "That just reminds us who and what we face. We will win."

Netanyahu has repeatedly blamed Palestinian incitement for fueling the ongoing violence. The Palestinians say the fighting stems from frustration over nearly 50 years of Israeli military occupation.

In the West Bank, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a statement condemning violence, but made no direct reference to the Tel Aviv shootings.

"The presidency has repeatedly emphasized that it stands against attacks on civilians, regardless of their sources or justifications," the statement said.

Throughout the fighting, Abbas, an opponent of violence, has stopped short of explicitly criticizing attacks on Israel, arguing that Israel bears responsibility for the bloodshed and wary that he could be seen as weak by his people.

In Israel's initial response to the shooting, COGAT, an Israeli defense body, said early Thursday that it had frozen 83,000 permits for Palestinians in the West Bank to visit relatives in Israel during the current Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Special Ramadan permits were also suspended for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to travel out of the blockaded territory and to attend prayers at the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

The army also announced that it had deployed two additional battalions — comprising hundreds of troops from infantry and special forces units — to the West Bank.

Among the participants in the Israeli Cabinet meeting was the new defense minister, Avigdor Lieberman, the leader of an ultranationalist party known for his hard-line views toward the Palestinians.

"I promise that everyone who was involved in this murderous terror attack will not evade punishment and we will reach them and bring them to justice," he said.

Despite the tough language, the Cabinet announced no additional action.

Even amid widespread anger over the shooting, Israeli officials appear to have few choices for confronting the violence that has killed 32 Israelis and some 200 Palestinians since September.

Officials believe the attacks, mostly stabbings, car rammings and shootings, have been carried out by assailants acting on their own with primitive weapons, making them difficult to predict or stop.

Wednesday's shooting, for instance, was carried out with a rudimentary homemade gun. Police said they were raiding metal shops believed to be making the makeshift weapons.

In addition, Palestinian security forces in the West Bank continue to coordinate with Israel in trying to halt militants.

Still, if similar attacks persist, or if they become deadlier or more organized, Israel may have no choice but to launch broader action, as it has done in the past.

In 2002, Israel launched a broad invasion in the West Bank following a wave of suicide bombings. And more recently, the kidnapping and killings of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank two years ago helped trigger a series of events that escalated into a 50-day war against militants in the Gaza Strip.

The attackers Wednesday were identified as cousins from Yatta, a West Bank village near the city of Hebron, which has been a focal point of the recent violence. Israel said they were not members of Hamas or other armed groups, and that they had sneaked into Israel illegally.

The military said it froze work permits for 204 of the attackers' relatives and imposed checkpoints to restrict movement in and out of the village. Netanyahu announced the arrest of a third suspect who aided the attackers, and the army began preparations to demolish the homes of the assailants — a tactic criticized by the Palestinians and human rights groups as collective punishment. By evening, troops had largely pulled out of the village, though checkpoints remained in place, residents said.

Extra police units were deployed in Tel Aviv on Thursday, mainly around the central bus station and train stations, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.

Police also announced plans to deploy thousands of additional officers during Friday prayers at Jerusalem's Al Aqsa Mosque, where thousands of people are expected. But Israel made no restrictions on access to the mosque. In the past, it has banned young Palestinian males from Friday prayers at times of trouble, raising tensions and sparking clashes.

During Wednesday's attack, two Palestinians dressed in black suits opened fire at the Max Brenner restaurant in Sarona. One of Tel Aviv's most popular destinations, it is often crowded with visitors and soldiers taking a break from their duties at the nearby military headquarters.

Israeli forces shot and arrested one of the attackers, while the second gunman was arrested unharmed. In a bizarre twist, Israeli media said the second assailant was apprehended after disguising himself as a victim and taking refuge in an off-duty police officer's apartment.

The wife of the officer told Channel 2 TV that as they entered their home near the attack scene, a man in a suit walked in with them and asked for water. "We didn't suspect anything. We thought that he just seemed panicked" from the attack, she said.

She said her husband grabbed his police hat and gun and ran outside. Later he encountered the other attacker wearing the same black outfit and realized who was in his apartment.

"My husband's big fear, he was sure he would come back to find us all dead," said the woman, who was identified only as the daughter of a former Israeli police chief. She said her husband rushed home and arrested the gunman.

Police identified the victims as Michael Feige, a 58-year-old sociologist and anthropologist at Ben-Gurion University, and Ido Ben Ari, a 42-year-old veteran of an elite army unit who was an executive at The Coca-Cola Co.'s Israel branch. Two other slain victims were identified as Ilana Naveh, 39, and Mila Misheiv, 32.

Hundreds of people attended Ben Ari's funeral in central Israel, where his father called on Israeli leaders to find a solution to the violence. "We elected you so that you would stop the bloodshed," he said.

In Yatta, Ahmad Mussa Mahmara, the father of one of the attackers, said his son has two uncles serving life sentences in Israeli prison. But he said his son had no political affiliation.

"We didn't expect this," he said.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad, two major Palestinian militant groups, welcomed the attack but did not claim responsibility.


-- (c) Associated Press 2016-06-10

[jaidam]

I do like the strong response. More Bradley Buzzcut than David Van Driessen. The Van Driessen approach - be more open to life experiences and sensitive to others does not work with this enemy, but booting them out of sight and out of mind will.

[noitom]

The Israelis acted swiftly and strongly to react as best they could. Condolences to the victim's families. It is good that the terrorists are alive. The Israelis will get a lot of information now.

[F4UCorsair]

You f*** with Israel, you get hurt.

I agree noitom, they'll provide the info, then die, a fitting end for terrorists.

Edited June 10, 2016 by F4UCorsair

[SOTIRIOS]

...perfect timing one might say....

[wabothai]

eternal action and reaction. result: thousands more die and the world becomes more and more anti Israel. Great job big boys.

[Morch]

You f*** with Israel, you get hurt.

I agree noitom, they'll provide the info, then die, a fitting end for terrorists.

No death penalty for terrorists in Israel. Yet.

Not sure how useful the information gleaned would be. Unless they were part of a larger outfit, then mostly where they got the weapons and whether someone helped them with transportation.

[Steely Dan]

The Obama administration are calling on Israel not to raise tensions. I wonder whether or not they consider the cold blooded murder of four civilians as something that raises tensions?

[Galactus]

although sad for the victims, unfortunately i believe such actions from Israel are heavy handed to make all Palestinian suffer just bc of two attackers.

and such actions, believe it or not, will create provocation and more attackers.

Edited June 10, 2016 by Galactus

[Steely Dan]

although sad for the victims, unfortunately i believe such actions from Israel are heavy handed to make all Palestinian suffer just bc of two attackers.

and such actions, believe it or not, will create provocation and more attackers.

France responded to the Paris attacks with airstrikes, I don't recall the U.S calling on them not to inflame tensions.

[DeaconJohn]

although sad for the victims, unfortunately i believe such actions from Israel are heavy handed to make all Palestinian suffer just bc of two attackers.

and such actions, believe it or not, will create provocation and more attackers.

Of course they will.

This atrocity underscores the fact that moderate Israelis are the only hope for an end to this carnage.

An example: on Thursday morning Tel Aviv's mayor Ron Huldai said Israel's occupation of the West Bank was a factor in understanding the cause of the attack. "We might be the only country in the world where another nation is under occupation without civil rights" he said in an interview on Israel's Army Radio, and concluded "You can't hold people in a situation of occupation and hope they'll reach the conclusion that everything is alright."

If Israelis like mayor Ron Huldai don't prevail soon, it will be too late for everybody.

[Morch]

although sad for the victims, unfortunately i believe such actions from Israel are heavy handed to make all Palestinian suffer just bc of two attackers.

and such actions, believe it or not, will create provocation and more attackers.

Of course they will.

This atrocity underscores the fact that moderate Israelis are the only hope for an end to this carnage.

An example: on Thursday morning Tel Aviv's mayor Ron Huldai said Israel's occupation of the West Bank was a factor in understanding the cause of the attack. "We might be the only country in the world where another nation is under occupation without civil rights" he said in an interview on Israel's Army Radio, and concluded "You can't hold people in a situation of occupation and hope they'll reach the conclusion that everything is alright."

If Israelis like mayor Ron Huldai don't prevail soon, it will be too late for everybody.

You're wasting your words on the poster responded to, according to him (and his imaginary friends) anyone in Israel speaking in favor of peace is at great risk....

At least two of the four Israelis murdered were pro-peace. by the way. It would be easier for moderate Israelis to prevail if Palestinian extremists would provide less support for right wing fear-mongering. As it stands, kinda hard to make a case when moderate people get shot in the center of Tel Aviv.

[DeaconJohn]

although sad for the victims, unfortunately i believe such actions from Israel are heavy handed to make all Palestinian suffer just bc of two attackers.

and such actions, believe it or not, will create provocation and more attackers.

Of course they will.

This atrocity underscores the fact that moderate Israelis are the only hope for an end to this carnage.

An example: on Thursday morning Tel Aviv's mayor Ron Huldai said Israel's occupation of the West Bank was a factor in understanding the cause of the attack. "We might be the only country in the world where another nation is under occupation without civil rights" he said in an interview on Israel's Army Radio, and concluded "You can't hold people in a situation of occupation and hope they'll reach the conclusion that everything is alright."

If Israelis like mayor Ron Huldai don't prevail soon, it will be too late for everybody.

You're wasting your words on the poster responded to, according to him (and his imaginary friends) anyone in Israel speaking in favor of peace is at great risk....

At least two of the four Israelis murdered were pro-peace. by the way. It would be easier for moderate Israelis to prevail if Palestinian extremists would provide less support for right wing fear-mongering. As it stands, kinda hard to make a case when moderate people get shot in the center of Tel Aviv.

Agreed.

...and when Palestinian families get forced off their land to make way for illegal Israeli settlements, or when 500+ children get killed in bombing raids. Many of them taking refuge in UN shelters in Gaza.

This horror shouldn't be reduced to partisan propaganda.

Peace Now, bro.

[sirineou]

The Obama administration are calling on Israel not to raise tensions. I wonder whether or not they consider the cold blooded murder of four civilians as something that raises tensions?

Yes, absolutely, and the Israelis should not take the bait.

[Morch]

although sad for the victims, unfortunately i believe such actions from Israel are heavy handed to make all Palestinian suffer just bc of two attackers.

and such actions, believe it or not, will create provocation and more attackers.

Of course they will.

This atrocity underscores the fact that moderate Israelis are the only hope for an end to this carnage.

An example: on Thursday morning Tel Aviv's mayor Ron Huldai said Israel's occupation of the West Bank was a factor in understanding the cause of the attack. "We might be the only country in the world where another nation is under occupation without civil rights" he said in an interview on Israel's Army Radio, and concluded "You can't hold people in a situation of occupation and hope they'll reach the conclusion that everything is alright."

If Israelis like mayor Ron Huldai don't prevail soon, it will be too late for everybody.

You're wasting your words on the poster responded to, according to him (and his imaginary friends) anyone in Israel speaking in favor of peace is at great risk....

At least two of the four Israelis murdered were pro-peace. by the way. It would be easier for moderate Israelis to prevail if Palestinian extremists would provide less support for right wing fear-mongering. As it stands, kinda hard to make a case when moderate people get shot in the center of Tel Aviv.

Agreed.

...and when Palestinian families get forced off their land to make way for illegal Israeli settlements, or when 500+ children get killed in bombing raids. Many of them taking refuge in UN shelters in Gaza.

This horror shouldn't be reduced to partisan propaganda.

Peace Now, bro.

I'm not the one putting it as a one sided statement. Never denied that Israel's actions create future generations of enemies. Yet it seems some are unable to see the same dynamic when applies to Hamas's actions (for example), and choose to throw all responsibility on Israel. Keeping facts straight is one way to avoid heating things up. Hence, "many of them taking refuge in UN shelters" is dully noted as one of them unnecessary (especially in the context of the post above) emotive propaganda bits.

[Morch]

The Obama administration are calling on Israel not to raise tensions. I wonder whether or not they consider the cold blooded murder of four civilians as something that raises tensions?

Yes, absolutely, and the Israelis should not take the bait.

What measures/response would be considered taking the bait? Does it apply for the actions described in the OP?

[Galactus]

although sad for the victims, unfortunately i believe such actions from Israel are heavy handed to make all Palestinian suffer just bc of two attackers.

and such actions, believe it or not, will create provocation and more attackers.

France responded to the Paris attacks with airstrikes, I don't recall the U.S calling on them not to inflame tensions.

France or USA are not stealing and encroaching land belong to others or let their settlers sit on the land unlawfully! (for the last half century at least:) so they might justify such actions still i dont.

and think about it, what such actions brought to France and USA? or what they will bring? Just more bombings and killings by bloody radical muslim. and more division between civilizations. nothign else.

[Morch]

although sad for the victims, unfortunately i believe such actions from Israel are heavy handed to make all Palestinian suffer just bc of two attackers.

and such actions, believe it or not, will create provocation and more attackers.

France responded to the Paris attacks with airstrikes, I don't recall the U.S calling on them not to inflame tensions.

France or USA are not stealing and encroaching land belong to others or let their settlers sit on the land unlawfully! (for the last half century at least:) so they might justify such actions still i dont.

and think about it, what such actions brought to France and USA? or what they will bring? Just more bombings and killings by bloody radical muslim. and more division between civilizations. nothign else.

So violence is justified only one way?

[Galactus]

although sad for the victims, unfortunately i believe such actions from Israel are heavy handed to make all Palestinian suffer just bc of two attackers.

and such actions, believe it or not, will create provocation and more attackers.

France responded to the Paris attacks with airstrikes, I don't recall the U.S calling on them not to inflame tensions.

France or USA are not stealing and encroaching land belong to others or let their settlers sit on the land unlawfully! (for the last half century at least:) so they might justify such actions still i dont.

and think about it, what such actions brought to France and USA? or what they will bring? Just more bombings and killings by bloody radical muslim. and more division between civilizations. nothign else.

So violence is justified only one way?

if you try to intrude, steal or sit on someone else's land, legally they can shoot you in US but before shooting, there is something called JUSTICE which is lacking in Israel.

and what about you morch? Lets say some muslim came to your land and want to take it from you by force therefore want to push you and your family to poverty. What would you do?

turn your other cheek? please be frank for once!

Edited June 10, 2016 by Galactus

[Morch]

France responded to the Paris attacks with airstrikes, I don't recall the U.S calling on them not to inflame tensions.

France or USA are not stealing and encroaching land belong to others or let their settlers sit on the land unlawfully! (for the last half century at least:) so they might justify such actions still i dont.

and think about it, what such actions brought to France and USA? or what they will bring? Just more bombings and killings by bloody radical muslim. and more division between civilizations. nothign else.

So violence is justified only one way?

if you try to steal or sit on someone else's land, i believe legally they can shoot you but before shooting, there is something called JUSTICE which is lacking in Israel.

and what about you morch? Lets say some muslim came to your land and want to take it from you by force. What would you do?

turn your other cheek? please be frank for once!

What you believe is, luckily, immaterial. The people murdered in Tel Aviv were not stealing anyone's land. They were not government representatives. At least half held opinions opposing current policies.

As said earlier, violence is a choice, not a must. An occupying/oppressing power can be resisted through non-violent means. Turning the other cheek is not a requirement for successful non-violent resistance. As for your re-hashed question, pretty much the same reply offered in the past - I sure do hope I'd have enough humanity left to make the right choice. If that fails, then a second best would be retaining the capacity to acknowledge my responsibility for wrongdoing.

[DeaconJohn]

France responded to the Paris attacks with airstrikes, I don't recall the U.S calling on them not to inflame tensions.

France or USA are not stealing and encroaching land belong to others or let their settlers sit on the land unlawfully! (for the last half century at least:) so they might justify such actions still i dont.

and think about it, what such actions brought to France and USA? or what they will bring? Just more bombings and killings by bloody radical muslim. and more division between civilizations. nothign else.

So violence is justified only one way?

if you try to intrude, steal or sit on someone else's land, legally they can shoot you in US but before shooting, there is something called JUSTICE which is lacking in Israel.

and what about you morch? Lets say some muslim came to your land and want to take it from you by force therefore want to push you and your family to poverty. What would you do?

turn your other cheek? please be frank for once!

Excellent post.

Logic that is irrefutable.

It would demolish any amount of specious verbosity.

[Galactus]

France or USA are not stealing and encroaching land belong to others or let their settlers sit on the land unlawfully! (for the last half century at least:) so they might justify such actions still i dont.

and think about it, what such actions brought to France and USA? or what they will bring? Just more bombings and killings by bloody radical muslim. and more division between civilizations. nothign else.

So violence is justified only one way?

if you try to steal or sit on someone else's land, i believe legally they can shoot you but before shooting, there is something called JUSTICE which is lacking in Israel.

and what about you morch? Lets say some muslim came to your land and want to take it from you by force. What would you do?

turn your other cheek? please be frank for once!

What you believe is, luckily, immaterial. The people murdered in Tel Aviv were not stealing anyone's land. They were not government representatives. At least half held opinions opposing current policies.

As said earlier, violence is a choice, not a must. An occupying/oppressing power can be resisted through non-violent means. Turning the other cheek is not a requirement for successful non-violent resistance. As for your re-hashed question, pretty much the same reply offered in the past - I sure do hope I'd have enough humanity left to make the right choice. If that fails, then a second best would be retaining the capacity to acknowledge my responsibility for wrongdoing.

i agree, innocent people died are not stealing land but their government selected by people of Israel is or directly or indirectly supporting such politics or settlers.

of course i am sure as a person believing in justice(i hope), you cannot imagine shooting someone just bc they are trying to steal your land and trying to imagine peaceful ways. But what if those dont work? you just leave your land with your family into the arms of poverty?

you cannot blame someone to get pissed hard just bc his/her land is stolen and family is pushed into poverty and if this guy does some horrible actions, you need to blame the people pushing him into this anger and vengeance stage by oppressing him and his family.

so these current innocent Israelis killed (RIP) are direct result of incompetent and unlawful Israeli government supporting oppression towards Palestinians and still bringing fascists like 'Avigdor' into the government and then who has chosen this government?

[Morch]

So violence is justified only one way?

if you try to steal or sit on someone else's land, i believe legally they can shoot you but before shooting, there is something called JUSTICE which is lacking in Israel.

and what about you morch? Lets say some muslim came to your land and want to take it from you by force. What would you do?

turn your other cheek? please be frank for once!

What you believe is, luckily, immaterial. The people murdered in Tel Aviv were not stealing anyone's land. They were not government representatives. At least half held opinions opposing current policies.

As said earlier, violence is a choice, not a must. An occupying/oppressing power can be resisted through non-violent means. Turning the other cheek is not a requirement for successful non-violent resistance. As for your re-hashed question, pretty much the same reply offered in the past - I sure do hope I'd have enough humanity left to make the right choice. If that fails, then a second best would be retaining the capacity to acknowledge my responsibility for wrongdoing.

i agree, innocent people died are not stealing land but their government selected by people of Israel is or directly or indirectly supporting such politics or settlers.

of course i am sure as a person believing in justice(i hope), you cannot imagine shooting someone just bc they are trying to steal your land and trying to imagine peaceful ways. But what if those dont work? you just leave your land with your family into the arms of poverty?

you cannot blame someone to get pissed hard just bc his/her land is stolen and family is pushed into poverty and if this guy does some horrible actions, you need to blame the people pushing him into this anger and vengeance stage by oppressing him and his family.

so these current innocent Israelis killed (RIP) are direct result of incompetent and unlawful Israeli government supporting oppression towards Palestinians and still bringing fascists like 'Avigdor' into the government and then who has chosen this government?

Ah, so Israelis are to pay for their government's policies, but Palestinians are not to be held accountable for decisions made by their own leadership? The Israeli government may be "incompetent", but it is certainly not "unlawful". It was elected by Israelis, of course, though not necessarily those who were murdered in this attack. Them double standards always come up.

The Palestinians in question could have easily walked across the street (literally), and try the same at the IDF headquarters. Attacking innocent civilians was a choice.

When a time comes when the Palestinians consistently try non-violent resistance, the rest of your ramblings might hold some meaning.