Aida Touma-Sliman, a Palestinian member of Israel’s Knesset, writes:

Several mixed towns in Israel looked like war zones over the past two weeks. In these communities, such as my hometown, Akka, Jewish Israelis and Palestinians like me live near each other. Recently, small numbers of young Palestinians, enraged by Israeli provocations at Al-Aqsa Mosque and plans to evict Palestinian families from their Sheikh Jarrah homes, clashed with police and attacked local businesses. Hundreds of other Palestinians, myself included, attempted to calm the situation down.

The clashes were part of a much larger picture: Thousands took to the streets protesting against Israeli aggression, but the violence was what captured international — and Israeli — attention.

In the days that followed, as Israel began bombing the besieged Gaza Strip, extreme right-wing Jews called on their supporters to come armed to mixed towns. Unlike the spontaneous outbursts of Palestinian rage, these fascist thugs came with a clear political agenda, organized lynch mobs, and assaulted Palestinian civilians. They were emboldened by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s brazen assault on civil liberties and human rights, as well as his wanton racist incitement against Palestinians.

Netanyahu ignited this latest round of violence with deliberate provocations in Jerusalem — at the height of Ramadan — in what can only be seen as a bid to remain in power. Israel has been stuck in a political gridlock and, after several elections, Netanyahu had been unsuccessful at forming a government during a monthlong mandate, which expired May 4. His rivals among the Jewish parties were in the process of trying to put a coalition together.

Sadly, though not atypically, when Israel began shelling Gaza, many in the purported opposition to Netanyahu actively supported the campaign. Netanyahu’s cynical ploy to hold on to power might prove politically successful, but Jewish and Palestinian civilians are paying the price. [Continue reading…]