Additional Attacks in France and Israel Raise Concern

The Islamic State’s series of terrorist attacks leaving 129 dead in France has led to increased security. However, enhanced security measures were not enough to deter an ISIS supportive group from attacking a Tzion Saddon, a Jewish schoolteacher, in Marseille on November 18, 2015.

The three assailants approached Saddon on two scooters. One of the men was reportedly wearing a T-shirt referencing the Islamic State. Hurling anti-semitic slurs, the three attackers stabbed Saddon, but were interrupted in the attack when a car arrived, causing the perpetrators to flee.

Saddon was taken to a hospital where he was treated for minor knife wounds as police continue to search for the attackers.

This is just the latest in a string of attacks in France targeting Jews. In October, a rabbi was stabbed outside a synagogue in Marseilles.

The series of attacks in France has led to an increase in fears among the French Jewish community. This has resulted in an upsurge of immigration to Israel, due to French Jews not feeling safe from terrorist threats in France.

The stabbing attack in Marseille echoes the ongoing campaign in Israel, where assailants, primarily Israeli Arabs with no direct terrorist affiliation, have launched a series of attacks against Israelis.

On November 19, 2015, a pair of attacks took place in Israel. A Palestinian terrorists killed three victims and injured three others. One of these victims was an 18-year-old American tourist. A Palestinians terrorist opened fire form his vehicle on other cars in a traffic jam in Gush Etzion. This attack took place a day after the one-year mark of the killings in a Jerusalem synagogue leaving five worshipers, three of who were Americans, dead.

On November 8, 2015, at the entrance checkpoint to the West Bank city of Beitar Illit, a woman stabbed an Israeli security guard.

Thursday’s violence brings the number of Israelis killed in the recent wave of violence to 17. In wake of the rising violence Israel has increased its security forces across the country, sending soldiers along with thousands of police to patrol cities. Police report a Palestinian stabbed two Israeli men on the second floor of an office building in Tel Aviv. While no known terrorist group has been identified as orchestrated the attacks, Palestinian factions have repeatedly praised attackers. The Israeli Defense Force said Hamas praised the attacks on Twitter. Hamas spokesman, Husam Badran, described the attack as “heroic” and called for much more such attacks against Israel. Hamas’ primary competitor, Fatah, the party of Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas has also praised the attacks.

The rises in attacks have resulted in politicians urging licensed gun owners to carry their weapons for protection.