IDF Intelligence Chief: Palestinian Despair, Frustration Are Among Reasons for Terror Wave

IDF intelligence chief: Palestinian despair, frustration are among reasons for terror wave -..

Major General Herzi Halevi's assessment contradicts Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's message which blames the attacks on incitement and ingrained…

haaretz.com

The head of Military Intelligence, Maj. General Herzl Halevi, said at Sunday’s weekly cabinet meeting that feelings of rage and frustration, especially among younger Palestinians, are part of the reason for the wave of terror attacks in Jerusalem and the West Bank.

Three people who attended the meeting and spoke with Haaretz on the condition of anonymity, reported that Halevi said many of the young perpetrators decided to carry out attacks because they were in despair over the state of things “and felt they had nothing to lose.” 

Halevi, the sources said, added that reports and comments on social media, as well as shared videos of previous attacks, are also a contributing factor. Another cause that is affecting some young Palestinians, who executed terrorist attacks, was discourse in social media and videos of other terrorist attacks. 

Leaders in the Palestinian Authority have little influence on these young people, who are alienated from them.

Halevi noted that while Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has instructed the PA security forces to thwart attacks on Israelis and has taken other measures to introduce quiet, “on the other hand he has branches that are acting to keep some kind of activity in the field,” he was quoted as telling the cabinet.

After Halevi discussed reasons for the terror attacks, Immigrant Absorption Minister Zeev Elkintold criticized him for minimizing the effect of incitement on the Palestinian side and said that Halevi implied that only Israel was at fault and not the incitement. Halevi didn’t argue with Elkin. “Yes. There is also incitement,” he said, according to the sources who attended the meeting.