In Lydd, Ongoing Israeli Conflict Stirs Fear Among Palestinians
“In Lydd, Israel, Palestinians live under the constant threat of violence and eviction amid Israel’s ongoing military action.”
I. The Setting: Lydd, Israel
Lydd, Israel – In the wake of Israel’s escalating military action in Gaza that started last October, Lydd, a city inhabited by Palestinians and Jewish Israelis alike, has been a hotbed of tension.
II. Fear Among Palestinians
Palestinians in Lydd are living in fear, constantly under surveillance from Israeli authorities and armed Jewish Israeli citizens.
III. Tensions in Lydd
Lydd has been in the spotlight due to the strained relationship between Palestinians and Israeli Jews, a tension that has been escalating over the years under the administration of far-right Mayor Yair Revivo.
IV. Threat of Expulsion
Palestinian activists fear that the city is on the brink of a conflict that might lead to the persecution and possible eviction of Palestinian residents.
V. ‘Living Under Constant Threat’
Palestinians in Lydd, who constitute about 27 percent of the city’s population, are living under the constant fear of violence and eviction.
VI. Fear of Arrest
At least 100 Palestinian citizens of Israel were arrested for social media posts expressing sympathy or anger over Israel’s war on Gaza.
VII. Israeli Extremism
Israeli extremist groups have long seen Lydd as a battleground to increase their numbers and gradually erase Palestinian existence.
VIII. Discrimination Against Palestinians
When disputes arise, security forces and Mayor Revivo solely protect Jewish Israelis, creating a sense of discrimination against the Palestinians.
IX. The Solidarity Protests
The solidarity protests in Lydd for Palestinians being expelled from Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem and attacked in Al-Aqsa Mosque in May 2021 led to escalated ethnic violence between Israelis and Palestinians.
X. Fear of Confrontation
Despite Israel’s ongoing military action in Gaza, Palestinian residents of Lydd are avoiding any confrontation with far-right Jewish Israelis in the city.
XI. Arming of Civilians
Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has distributed thousands of assault rifles and other weapons to Jewish Israelis across the country, escalating fears among Palestinians.
