13 Dec 2018 | 07:12 PM UTC
Israel/Palestinian Terr.: Protests in Jerusalem Dec. 13 amid uptick in violence /update 1
Over 1000 right-wing protesters assemble outside Prime Minister’s residence in Jerusalem on December 13 following uptick in violence in West Bank and Jerusalem; heightened security presence and traffic disruptions expected
Event
Over 1000 right-wing demonstrators are reportedly staging a protest outside the Israeli Prime Minister's residence in Jerusalem on the night (local time) of Thursday, December 13, demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resign following a recent uptick in Palestinian violence targeting Israelis in the West Bank and Jerusalem. A total of four Palestinians and two Israelis have been killed in several violent incidents since Wednesday, December 12. A heightened security presence and localized traffic disruptions are to be expected in the affected area over the coming hours.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are reportedly deploying additional troops to the West Bank to augment security in the area. Increased security measures (e.g. heightened security at checkpoints, etc.) is to be anticipated over the coming days, especially in Ramallah, where Israeli security forces have carried out raids, sealed routes in and out of the city, and clashed with Palestinian residents on Thursday.
Context
Palestinians have occasionally carried out stabbings and other attacks targeting Israelis in Jerusalem and the West Bank in recent years. Notably, a knife-wielding assailant wounded two Israeli soldiers in Jerusalem's Old City in the early hours of the morning of December 13. The attacker was reportedly shot and killed by security forces. Also, on December 13, a Palestinian gunman killed two Israeli soldiers and wounded two others near Givat Assaf (West Bank). Additionally, a Palestinian man reportedly attempted to carry out a vehicle-ramming attack in Ramallah's Al-Bireh neighborhood on December 13, wounding one soldier before being shot and killed.
Advice
Individuals present in Israel and the Palestinian Territories are advised to monitor developments to the situation and avoid all protests and demonstrations as a precaution. Due to the underlying terrorist threat, travelers in Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip are advised to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities. Some Western governments advise their citizens against all travel to the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and areas near the Israeli-Lebanese, Israeli-Syrian, and Israeli-Egyptian borders.
