Occupied Palestinian Territories. Deterioration of the Status Quo

The highest recorded number of conflict-related casualties since 2005 and the highest level of Israeli fatalities since the first Intifada have prompted concerns that this violence marks the beginning of a third intifada. Since mid-September 2015, Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories have witnessed a surge in Palestinian acts of violence characterized by stabbings, shootings and vehicle rammings predominantly in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem. Widespread protests have also led to a high numbers of injuries in this period, in addition to allegations of Israeli forces using asymmetrical force; and in the case of the deaths of many attackers, criticisms of unlawful killings.Frustration caused by the perception of the impossibility of a two-state solution, punitive measures carried out by the Israeli state and a lack of legitimacy from Palestinian leadership has fueled recent violence. While Israeli politicians claim that Palestinian leaders have incited this wave of violence, what makes this period unique is the lack of affiliations attackers had with political parties.