The Al Aqsa mosque is one of the holiest shrines in Islam. This did not deter three radical Islamic youths from firing and critically wounding two Israeli policemen outside the holy place. These policemen were not Jews and were identified as Druze - a recognized minority in Israel. Both policemen were on guard duty when three Muslim youths opened fire on them. They were critically wounded and later succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. The three attackers who were in the age group of 18 to 29 were shot dead by Israeli Police in a retaliatory action.
The Muslim youths carried two self-loading rifles and a knife, Al Jazeera reported.
Jerusalem
Jerusalem was captured by Israeli forces during the 1967 war. It was originally a part of Jordan but Israel declared the city their capital. recently, President Trump agreed to shift the American Embassy to the city. Jerusalem has a special significance for Jews and Christians and it also houses one of the holiest shrines of Islam. The city is a bone of contention between the Palestinian Arabs and Israel and no solution is in sight.
The Palestine Arabs do not recognize the reality of Israel and their terrorist organizations led by Hamas are hell bent on destroying the state of Israel. Both the communities have irreconcilable differences.
Hamas has called for the destruction of Israel and liberation of Jerusalem from Israeli control.
Radical Islamic terror
The trend of radical Islamic youth who carry out terrorist attacks against Israel is on the increase. The Arabs have attacked Israel four times and each time has suffered a grievous defeat. Unable to defeat Israeli military, the local Arabs have resorted to terrorist attacks.
This is a cause for worry for Israel.
After the U.S, condemned the recent attack n the policemen, Donald Trump, who promised a solution to the problem and has detailed his son in law Jared Kushner to meet the stake holders and work out a solution, might be getting worried. With the latest attack, his task will be more difficult as there is no meeting ground between the two parties and Hamas and Palestine Arabs will not give up terrorist acts.
Passions inflamed
The attack by three gunmen was carried out with homemade Carlos sub-machine guns. The killers have been identified and there is a possibility that they were Israeli Arabs. In the aftermath of the killings, the area was cleared of all people and police announced that Fridays holy prayers were canceled, which further inflamed the Muslims. Donald Trump will have to put on his thinking hat for a solution as the problem appears intractable.
