Israel-Palestine: "This level of violence in Jerusalem, we had never seen it"

Vincent Lemire, historian and director of the French Research Center in Jerusalem, delivers his analysis of the clashes in the holy city and in mixed cities.

According to this specialist, "we had never seen" this level of violence, "including during the second Intifada".

INTERVIEW

Despite the diplomatic efforts of the international community, the situation remains extremely tense in Israel.

The country struck several sites in Gaza overnight from Friday to Saturday, after five days of fighting against Palestinian militants.

In Jerusalem, where the first clashes began last week, Vincent Lemire, director of the French research center located in the city, noted a "relative lull since Tuesday", then tensions which rose a little on Friday.

But the historian, marked by the unprecedented violence of intercommunal clashes, believes that the unrest could last long in the holy city. 

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"The level of violence in Jerusalem and the scenes of riots and lynchings in mixed towns, we had never seen, including during the second Intifada," he said.

At that time, "there were very important clashes but it was against the police and the military. There, these are really inter-communal clashes which are much more difficult to channel," he adds. 

Civil war?

"We're not there yet, but it could happen" 

But should we fear a real civil war?

"We are not there yet", answers Vincent Lemire.

For a civil war, "it would be necessary in particular that the firearms are out", and this while in Israel, he recalls, "40% of adult men are armed and have ammunition".

However, points out the historian, for the moment, "one saw very few firearms".

Admittedly, the clashes are "terrible and appallingly violent, but we are in stones on cars, iron bars, lynchings, punches, Molotov cocktails. It's atrocious, but a civil war that's another thing. It could still happen because we are in a society that is armed. "

"The war in Gaza will end"

At the microphone of Europe 1, Vincent Lemire is pessimistic when discussing a potential peace process in the future.

On the other hand, he says, "the war in Gaza is going to end."

"In a few days, in a few weeks ... We don't know, but it's going to end."

For the guest from Europe 1, "we know the scenario ... For lack of combatants and lack of ammunition, Qatar will gradually begin to mediate with Egypt, and we will have a cease-le- fire".

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On the other hand, he adds immediately, "what started it all, that is to say Jerusalem and the explosions of violence in the mixed cities, it is not going to end anytime soon. And it is rather this. which worries observers on both sides the most. " And to conclude: "Everyone says that in Gaza, it's horrible, but we know how it will end. While Jerusalem and the mixed cities, we do not know where it will go and how long it will go. last."