A wave of Palestinian violence has prompted an Israeli crackdown.  

The Israeli army has demolished the homes of two Palestinian militants who carried out deadly attacks last year in Jerusalem.

Israel says the move is aimed at deterring Palestinian terrorists after a wave of shootings and stabbings that left four Israelis dead since Thursday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised a “strong hand” to fight terror and to quell unrest that has raised fears of a third Palestinian uprising.

Retribution

The demolished Palestinian homes are in Arab East Jerusalem.  They belonged to the families of a man who killed four worshippers and a policeman at a Jerusalem synagogue, and a second attacker who killed a rabbi when he rammed a bulldozer into pedestrians.

Since both assailants were killed, the Palestinian Authority describes the home demolitions as collective punishment.

Palestinian official Ashraf al-Ajami said Israel is refusing to deal with the root of the violence, which is its oppressive military occupation of the West Bank.  He told Israel Radio that Netanyahu is not interested in negotiating a two-state solution.

Temple Mount dispute

The simmering unrest began three weeks ago at a hotly disputed holy place in Jerusalem’s Old City known to Muslims as the Mosque of Al-Aqsa and to Jews as the Temple Mount.  Palestinians accuse Israel of trying to seize control of the site; but Prime Minister Netanyahu emphatically denies it, accusing the Palestinian Authority of “wild incitement.”   

 
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