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Syria, ISIS, and the 2016 Presidential primaries dominating the headlines lately, but recent developments in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories has me very worried that a region already on fire is about to have some gasoline poured on it.
Our beloved "news" organizations haven't spent much time talking about the new developments in Israel and Palestine, but I guarantee you they will if things continue to spiral out of control there.
This recent wave of violence was sparked after Israel began dramatically limiting Palestinian access to the Al-Aqsa mosque, the third holiest site in Islam. The mosque just happens to be built on the Temple Mount, the site where the Jewish people want to build their third (and final...) Temple. This restriction by the Israeli authorities has led many disenfranchised Palestinians to believe they have nothing left to lose and must resort to violence.
The first two Intifada's were terrible for both sides and a third one will undoubtedly be worse. Israel has created an unsustainable situation by instituting an apartheid state in the occupied territories and their actions are beginning to make them the pariah of the world. You can't claim to be a democratic state while subjugating millions of people at the same time.
Instead of trying to work with the Palestinians to end their occupation and bring about a two state solution they have taken the other route of occupation and subjugation. That might have won them a temporary peace, but it is a terrible long-term strategy and I worry we are beginning to witness the beginning of another uprising, but this time the Israelis are more isolated then they have ever been before.