Palestinian Militants Bomb Israel, Shattering the Passover Peace

Never able to resist attacking Israel on a sacred religious holiday like Passover, Palestinian extremists unleashed a barrage of rockets, followed by a heavier volley during a week sacred to three religions. The attack will undoubtedly prompt a strong response from the Israeli Defense Force (IDF). This week is Holy Week for Christians, Passover for Jews, and the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims. In less than a day after the first attack, Palestinian militants fired 34 rockets from Lebanon in what some call the worst rocket attack since 2006.

Israel Under Constant Threat

The first fusillade of rockets came from Gaza, with seven fired into Israel on Wednesday, April 5. As Fox News explained:

"The Israeli military says all seven rockets exploded in midair. Tensions remain high in the country as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan continues, while the Jewish Passover began Wednesday. Israeli forces have tracked rocket barrages from Gaza throughout the week, though few have escaped the country's air defenses."

Hostilities began during Ramadan, when Muslims attended services at the Al-Aqsa Mosque built on the site of the Jewish temple of the Old Testament, the holiest of Jewish places of worship. Muslim worshipers who travel from long distances during Ramadan generally have freedom of movement to attend the Mosque services but cannot stay in the building overnight except during the last ten days of the Islamic holiday. But worshipers demanded to pray throughout the night in the Mosque. When Israeli police attempted to clear the Mosque at night, violence broke out. Militant extremist worshipers at the Mosque barricaded themselves in the building and refused to leave. The militants threw stones at and used fireworks against police. Over 300 arrests were made. "After many and prolonged attempts to get them out by talking to no avail, police forces were forced to enter the compound in order to get them out," Anders Hagstrom, writing for Fox News, quoted Israeli police.

On Thursday, April 6, the rocket assault on Israel came from Lebanon, where approximately 34 rockets were launched by an unnamed Palestinian militant terrorist group. Of the 34 missiles fired at targets in northern Israel, reports from the region said 25 were engaged and destroyed by Israel's Iron Dome air defense system while the other nine landed, doing minor damage and inflicting shrapnel wounds on only two civilians. The fear is that this attack will grow into a much larger conflict, similar to the 11-day war in 2021. "I condemn the launching of indiscriminate rockets from Lebanon toward Israel, which resulted in injuries, the largest such firing since 2006. It is unacceptable & must stop. A wider escalation must be avoided. UN remains in contact w/ relevant parties to immediately de-escalate," United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Wennesland tweeted.

Rumors Often Prompt Violence Against Israel

When violence breaks out between Israelis and Muslims living in Jerusalem, there are always underlying situations not obvious to outsiders. For example, reports from Jerusalem claim ultra-religious Jews were planning to perform ritualistic animal sacrifices at the Mosque site to celebrate Passover. The Israeli government bans such religious rituals, "but calls by Jewish extremists to revive the practice, including offers of cash rewards to anyone who even attempts to bring an animal into the compound, have amplified fears among Muslims that Israel is plotting to take over the site," Isabel Debre and Sam McNeil reported for Associated Press. Such narratives spread quickly and cause violence in the streets, whether just rumors or not. Israeli security forces respond to the violence, and the conflict expands.

Iran-backed Hezbollah, Hamas, and other extremist Islamic groups take any perceived insult to Islam as cause for attacking Israel. The problem for the US is what happens in Israel doesn't stay in Israel. Following the recent rocket attacks, in typical fashion, the United Nations held an emergency session to address the violence. "Several members pushed for the top UN panel to issue a statement condemning Israel over the police beating of Muslim worshippers at the Al-Aqsa on Monday night, according to a UN diplomat for a country on the panel," Jacob Magid posted on The Times of Israel live blog. "The Biden administration blocked the UN Security Council from issuing a statement."

Additionally, when the Iran-backed Palestinian militants attack Israel, and Israel responds, the fragile relationships the Israelis have cultivated with Gulf states are in jeopardy. Military alliances worked out a year ago between Israel and Bahrain, for example, could unravel. Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas would be delighted if the agreements, like the Abraham Accords brokered by the Trump administration, would collapse. The Biden administration cannot sit on the sidelines.

The views expressed are those of the author and not of any other affiliation.