US President Donald Trump’s announcement that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Israel and the Jewish people elated most of the Jewish and Israeli world. The same announcement that caused Jews to celebrate angered Muslims around the world, even resulting in violence.  

On Monday, 14 of the 15 members of the UN members of the UN Security Council approved a measure “expressing deep regret at recent decisions concerning the status of Jerusalem.” The US immediately vetoed the resolution, but the security council’s move highlighted how many countries were not ready for this historic announcement.

A 21-year-old student and human rights activist in Tunisia, Nourhajen J., who asked that her name not be used for security reasons, said in a separate interview that “people are threatening violence” over Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem.

In the Holy Land, Israel Defense Force (IDF) soldiers are on highest alert, as there has already been a marked increase in rock throwing, stabbings, and rioting by Palestinians. Just yesterday, a terrorist carrying two bombs was stopped by alert IDF soldiers. Israel’s soldiers are well aware that additional attacks can happen at any moment and from likely and unlikely culprits.

Since the winter of 2016, when there were almost-daily lone wolf attacks in Israel, the number of Palestinian youth who have stabbed, run over or shot Israeli soldiers and civilians has declined. However, unlike research presented several years ago by Britain’s Mail on Sunday, that two-thirds of terror suspects are from middle-class backgrounds and that those who become suicide bombers are often highly educated, lone wolf attacks tend to be perpetrated by people in despair.

“The fading hopes for a real change in the situation is also the reason why, at the end of the day, the Palestinians will take to the streets, leading to another round of bloody violence,” said Yuval Diskin, former head of Israel’s internal security service, the Shin Bet, wrote in 2013.

Dr. John Grossman, chair of LIBI USA, told Breaking Israel News that soldiers who face these kinds of pressures need prayers from around the world. He also called on lovers of Israel to provide financial support for stress-relieving activities, such as fun days or treats, that can help soldiers take their minds off the pressures of being in the field.

“When you donate to LIBI USA over 95 percent of your donation goes straight to benefit the soldiers of the IDF,” said Dr. Grossman, who noted that donations also send the message that the men and women who are protecting God’s land are not alone.

Since Trump’s announcement, Hamas launched several rockets at the Holy Land, with one landing in the courtyard of a vacant kindergarten in southern Israel. Additionally, a security guard was stabbed and critically wounded at the entrance to Jerusalem’s central bus station. Security forces in Judea and Samaria, Israel’s Biblical heartland, have also reported numerous rock-throwing attacks and other attempted assaults.

This article was written in cooperation with LIBI-USA. To donate to the welfare of IDF soldiers, please visit here.