Posted on 07/24/2014 3:03:20 PM PDT by SJackson
Thousands protest against IDF's Gaza operation, throwing rocks, firebombs and fireworks at Israeli security forces near Kalandia checkpoint; hundreds of officers to blanket Old City to ensure safety, citing threats of rioting.
Violence broke out Thursday night near the Kalandia checkpoint, located in the West Bank between Jerusalem and Ramallah, as residents of the West Bank village clashed with police in protests against the IDF's operation in the Gaza Strip.
Some 10,000 Palestinians protested near the checkpoint, throwing rocks, firebombs and fireworks at Israeli security forces, and setting tires ablaze. The IDF forces and Border Police were using crowd dispersal means on the masses.
According to the Palestinian news agency Ma'an, two residents were killed by Israeli security forces and dozens wounded.
The IDF Spokesperson's Office did not confirm the Palestinian casualties. The military was checking reports of live fire targeting Israeli forces at the checkpoint.
The crowds were marching from Ramallah towards Kalandia en route to Jerusalem, demonstrating on behalf of the people of Gaza, and against the IDF's offensive in the Strip.
Earlier on Thursday, Israel Police arrested nine suspects in east Jerusalem towns, for disrupting the peace and attacking police officers, near the Old City. The police said it used crowd dispersal methods to restore order.
At the same time, near the Temple Mount, dozens of east Jerusalem residents threw rocks and Molotov cocktails at police forces. The police said said they have arrested 10 suspects in the incident, and that two police officers were lightly injured during the clash.
As police prepared for Friday prayers, they planed to heighten security in the Old City and throughout Jerusalem, as Operation Protective Edge enters its third week, fueling already heightened tensions between Arabs and Jews in the capital.
Citing anonymous threats of Arab rioting expected near Damascus Gate, National Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said Thursday that hundreds of officers will be on hand near the east Jerusalem entrance Friday to ensure no incidents take place.
“Police are making preparations for the thousands of people expected to the Old City to pray during Ramadan,” he said. “We have received information that there will be disturbances, so we are leaving nothing to chance to ensure the safety of residents.”
To that end, Rosenfeld said no Arabs under 50-years-old will be permitted to enter Damascus Gate, and undercover teams and various other elite units will blanket the area to respond immediately to any violence.
Since the brutal revenge murder of Mohammed Abu Khedeir earlier this month, several communities in east Jerusalem, have been embroiled in rioting, resulting in dozens of arrests and the destruction of municipal property, including two light rail stations.
As a result, last week Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat announced an unprecedented police aerial surveillance pilot program to monitor at-risk neighborhoods from the sky by utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles, which look like miniature helicopters.
Noting the destruction the riots caused to light-rail stations in Shuafat and Beit Hanina neighborhoods, Barkat said it is imperative that police take all available measures to ensure residents’ safety.
The helicopters are equipped with high definition and thermal imaging cameras for night, which transmit live footage to an area police precinct.
Shouldn’t “massive” clashes leave about 2,000 dead?
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A mob of 10,000 throwing firebombs and rocks which are dangerous. Probably get you killed by a LEO in the US, and you need a lot less than a mob of 10,000. I'm reminded for the Palestinian kid from Tampa using a slingshot for his rocks. A deadly weapon, in most states. Nor would I blame the LEO, one person throwing one firebomb at me is enough for me, which is why I couldn't do that job. Still, they were setting off fireworks, I sure they weren't throwing them. They must have been having a party. Clearly Israel overreacted. They should have done noting until at least two police officers were killed. Then it would be proportionate.
Certainly could.
Arab count dead in fruit-fly years.
2 is infinite.
I mourn two dead birds I saw this morning more than these insects in Gaza. It is like Satan himself has taken over a million bodies to do his will.
“Clearly Israel overreacted. They should have done noting until at least two police officers were killed. Then it would be proportionate. “
Should we hand the officers over to them so that they can even up the score?
That’s not a protest, it’s an attack on the Israeli checkpoint.
That certainly would be a good start.
That’s true. About the only other border you could get away with that is ours. Though you’d need to use smaller groups. Ten, not ten thousand. And head to the nearest law enforcement person and say Obama sent me. Guess it’s not the same.
I have noticed, even FOX does it, that we hear daily from a helmut head reporter in Gaza how many palis are dead.
Heck, we never heard a daily count of the dead when it was our troops.
And as you note you hear palestinians. Thus far Israel hasn’t killed a single combatant. That’s because they rely on palestinian sources, even Fox.
Proportionality in war is laughable. I wonder what Sun Szu and Von Clausowitz would say about so called “proportionate warfare”...pssss....
Fox news is starting to concern me. They are sounding more and more like CNN every day...Perhaps their owner, Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, is demanding HIS version of “fair and balanced”...
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