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Former Shin Bet chief expects ‘dangerous’ escalation between Israel, Palestine

November 26, 2022 at 12:02 pm

Ami Ayalon, former admiral and former head of Israel’s Shin Bet security services [Photo by Uriel Sinai/Getty Images]

Ami Ayalon, former head of Israel’s Shin Bet, predicted on Friday that Israel and the Palestinians are going towards a “dangerous” escalation in the West Bank, primarily Jerusalem.

Speaking to Israeli radio station FM 103, Ayalon confirmed: “We are currently experiencing an escalation. We have to recognise this. I think we are heading towards a dangerous escalation. I am not sure whether we could call it an Intifada or not because an Intifada is a popular unrest. The current situation is different.”

He added: “There is a difference between the attacks of Daesh and Al-Qaeda. Their attacks are stronger than the attacks here, but we see attacks without thousands of Palestinians in the streets.”

Ayalon continued: “Everyone raises his head, not only the Palestinian groups. We are facing a new reality… When terror spells, we will not be able to stop it because it will be carried out by factions and individuals.”

He expects that many people will die in such an escalation: “I do not know the number, but we are going to see this. This will not happen tomorrow, but I am sure it will happen because the power behind it is being fed by poverty, lack of home and land of leadership.”
“Religious and national elements are increasing among the Israelis, while poverty and lack of hope are increasing among the Palestinians,” he explained.

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