Israeli security preps for Arab violence during Trump inauguration

Israel’s security establishment is warning of a possible rise in tensions and violence from Palestinians during Trump’s inauguration and is calling on politicians to avoid making incendiary statements. 

Israel’s security establishment is warning of a possible uptick in tensions throughout Judea and Samaria as US President-elect Donald Trump assumes office later on Friday.

“We are preparing for an escalation in light of the elected president’s speech,” said the sources. “We understand that his statements can exacerbate the situation in the field.”

Senior Palestinian Authority (PA) officials including PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas have accused Trump of having policy positions that are inflammatory against Palestinians. One senior PA official went as far as to suggest that Trump’s plan to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem would lead to bloodshed in Judea and Samaria while another PA official said that it “would open the gates of hell.”

The security establishment also warned both Israeli and PA politicians to avoid making any inflammatory statements themselves during the time surrounding Trump’s inauguration.

“Politicians’ public statements could also potentially further fan the flames,” the added.

The Palestinians launched the Second Intifada, which took the lives of 1053 Israelis, during Bill Clinton’s presidency, a supporter of concessions to the PLO and Yasser Arafat, and thousands of terror attacks have targeted Israelis throughout both Republican and Democratic administrations.

By: Jonathan Benedek, World Israel News

Donald TrumpJudea and SamariaPalestinian Authority