Terrorist attack in Tel Aviv

Damascus Gate last night

Yesterday evening the dreadful news of an arab attack in Tel Aviv rocked the country. Two or maybe more arabs from Hebron dressed like ultra-orthodox jews entered a popular restaurant, ate dinner then started shooting at the people there. 4 dead 18 injured. All this because Israel offered access to Palestinians from the Territories to come out at worship at the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem during Ramadan. So rightly today Israel revoked the permits of over 83,000 arab muslims to enter Israel again.

But the shock was that it could happen in Tel Aviv .... usually calm and seldom terrorized. And that these terrorists could actually go so far out into Tel Aviv instead of nearby Jerusalem.

Arab muslims, youths especially, who were in the Al Aqsa to pray last night came out at about 9.30pm chanting and rejoicing over the deaths. Damascus Gate became the focal point for their celebration. Chants of Allah Akbar and other nationalistic slogans drowned out the area. But the Israeli police kept a cool head. They remained at the top of the steps but only charged once to disperse the crowd. Unfortunately I couldn't get home because the Gate was blocked by these demonstrators. I had to go home from Herod's Gate 500 meters further east. When I entered the house, the demonstrators gathered inside the City bear our house. Police fired 2 stun grenades and ended the demonstration.

Well this attack should be read in context ... to be fair. 2 days previously jews were attacking arabs in the Jerusalem train stations, racial slurs and blasphemies were thrown at the arabs. It got very little news attention but the local arab population felt it especially when it's Ramadan.

I can only imagine things getting worse after Ramadan.