Although cease-fire has been brokered, the recent re-escalation of the Palestine – Israel violent conflict in the Middle East would no doubt have a reverberating negative impact across the whole globe.
In the last few days, the world has witnessed a dramatic surge in anti – Semitic protests which has so far taken place in more than 100 cities around the world, with protesters condemning what they call Israel’s violent and disproportionate use of force against Palestine and its people.
Of recent, there has been an increase in reported incidences of anti – Semitic acts which are of course not a coincidence.
In Germany for example, there were reported episodes of attacks on Synagogues.
While in Britain, a charity organisation – the Community Security Trust (CST) reported a steep increase in cases of Jews being threatened and verbally abused by 490 per cent in the past one week, according to the New York Times.
This is in addition to other attacks that may have gone unreported.
All over the world, terrorists generally tend to focus primarily on anti-western sentiments and religious extremism to perpetrate their despicable atrocities.
Essentially, terrorists’ deep hatred commonly stems from the West’s perceived anti-Islam policies and its support for Israel, its role in toppling Gaddafi, and the invasion of Afghanistan, Iraq, and its numerous sanctions against Iran.
Jihadists in the Sahel and the Lake Chad Region are not an exception.
Another reason the ongoing Palestine – Israel conflict could undermine security in the Sahel and the Lake Chad Region is the shifts in events – that Africa is set to overtake the Middle East as the “primary theatre” of violent jihadists activities. More specifically, the Global Terrorism Index’s (GTI’i) 2020 report states that Islamic State’s (IS’s) “centre for gravity” has moved from the Middle East to Africa. This means that IS’s affiliates in the Lake Chad Region such as the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) may appear stronger and deadlier.
Therefore, it would be not unexpected to see terrorists in the Sahel and the Lake Chad Region stepping up attacks on perceived Western interests.
In the meantime, and as a short term strategy, stepping up security in possible hotspots might perhaps be the most effective proactive response for now.
Ibrahim Kareto writes from Maiduguri and can be reached via ibrahimkareto@yahoo.com
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