Violence escalates between Palestinians and Israelis

At least 1,400 Palestinians have been injured in clashes with Israeli security forces over the weekend, with no signs of the storm of anger abating.

Palestinian protesters kick a burning tire toward Israeli soldiers in the West Bank city of Ramallah on December 10. Photo: REUTERS

Observers fear that the stabbing of an Israeli security officer on December 10 could inflame tensions, opening the way for tough responses from the Jewish state.

The man was stabbed at the entrance to Jerusalem's central bus station. A Palestinian man, about 24 years old, who stabbed the security guard was overpowered by passersby and arrested shortly afterwards.

Israeli authorities have stepped up security measures, including deploying metal scanners at public places, in recent days.

Bethlehem streets were covered in white smoke from smoke grenades and tear gas fired by Israeli security forces on December 10. Photo: REUTERS

Violence in Bethlehem, a city in the West Bank about 10km from Jerusalem, continued to escalate on December 10. Tear gas and smoke grenades were used to disperse crowds shouting that Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine and protesting the US decision.

Russia Today said it had witnesses who saw Israeli police and soldiers firing smoke grenades at protesters. A reporter for the Russian news agency RIA Novosti was apparently hit by tear gas from Israeli security forces.

It was the fifth day in Bethlehem, and protests leading to violence and casualties were inevitable. Bethlehem was just one part of the picture of anger in the Arab and Muslim world after the US recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on December 7.

The Jerusalem Post quoted a Red Crescent spokesman as saying that at least 1,397 Palestinians were injured in clashes and protests on December 9 and 10.

The US and Israeli flags were burned during a protest in Pakistan, a Muslim country, on December 10 - Photo: REUTERS

Protests took place not only in Muslim countries, which share and sympathize with the Palestinians, but also in countries that are allied with the United States.

On December 10, about 2,500 people gathered outside the US Embassy in Germany to show solidarity with the State of Palestine, against Washington's decision. At least one Israeli flag was burned, prompting the Berlin government to speak out, according to Reuters.

German Justice Minister Heiko Maas stressed there would be no place for anti-Semites at such protests.

The German foreign minister stressed that while criticism of the US president's decision was understandable, no one had the right or any excuse to burn the Israeli flag, incite hatred against Jews or question the existence of the Jewish state.

According to Tuoi Tre