>> ♪ >> this is al jazeera these are our top stories. israelis have been killed in an occupied attack in east jerusalem it happened in the illegal settlement. eight palestinian gunmen woods shot dead at the scene. benjamin netanyahu has visited the scene of the attack. he says immediate action will respond to the shooting, but asking the public not to take the law into their own hands. >> we are here after one of the

hardest attacks in recent years. we decided on several immediate actions. we need to work with determination and composure, i have asked people not to take the law into their own hands, because we have an army and police and secure forces. >> the shooting has been celebrated by some people in occupied territories, there are spontaneous demonstrations in gaza and in the west end. five palestinians have been injured in attacks carried out by israeli settlers. it happened after palestinians blocked a road. palestinian health officials say that one of the victims is in critical condition. authorities in the u.s. city of memphis have released video think -- showing the arrest of a black man who died after a traffic stop.

five police officers have been charged with murder and kidnapping following the death of tyre nichols. protesters are calling for justice and an end to police violence. and tyree's nichols families want the police chief to expand a unit that focuses on street crime. >> two people are dead and others are missing after torrential rain caused extreme flooding in new zealand's city. evacuations are continuing as people escape flood waters and the suburbs are worst hit, it received most of the years rain. >> people havepoken, but what

exactly did they say, is there a whole new order with a -- less american -- less america in it. how much do soci media companies know about you and how easy is it to manipulate. >> of the bottom line. >> antony blinken heads to the middle east after israeli forces kill yet more palestinians. what is washington's role in the worsening conflict, and what challenges will the biden administration fate -- face in the middle east. this is inside story. ♪ mohammed: hello and welcome to the program i'm mohammed jamjoom , this will be his first visit to the region since the fall are

right government came into power in israel and it comes just days after more palestinians were killed in jenin. al jazeera is reporter explains how the raid unfolded. >> palestinians in janine -- in jenin pay their respects in the occupied west bank on thursday. they are next to dozens of other palestinians who died over the past year in israeli and incursions into the refugee camp. this is the first time use -- the first time is really forces have stormed the camp in the past several months according to locals. the past raids were limited to the outskirts. people here woke up to a battle between israeli army forces and palestinian fighters. in this densely populated

capital. >> i was leaving for work at 7:00 in the morning, i went outside and soldiers were looking for cars, they took over this house and another rooftop and shot at the fighters house for another half hour. that's when we believe that the fighters were killed. >> families here are frustrated and exhausted. because these raids have become a regular part of their daily. and they stay up every night fearing the next military raid. they've started asking this question, when will it be my turn? he lives next to a hat -- she lives next to a house that was raided. she says that for months, her and her family have been living in feared of being -- living in fear of being killed injured or paralyzed. >> i stayed in the inner rooms of my house because it overlooks

the shooting. i could not go to the toilet if i needed to, i'm terrified. >> one of the victims of this new raid was a 60-year-old woman, she was shot dead in the neck by israeli forces in the rooftop of her home. this house is -- this house and its charred walls they are witness to what's become a daily nightmare to palestinians engine in. -- in jenin. mohammed: the attack brings the number of those killed by is really a -- by israeli forces to at least 50. >> i am standing at damascus gate and jerusalem, one of the entry points to the old city, where palestinians who do on their way to the mosque for prayer on fridays and every other day of the week, you can see people leaving friday

prayers. it is normal, calm, quiet here. but there was a brief process. there were prayers said for jenin. and briefly, chanted from jenin, palestine is free, and they rose the palestine flags. they were quick to intervene and -- usually they are quick to intervene and remove flags and protesters, but i think it's because it is a sensitive time right now for israel because there is a visit coming sunday by antony blinken, u.s. secretary of state. he will be going to egypt, and here, he will be meeting the new hard-line israeli government, his first visit here since benjamin not -- since benjamin netanyahu's administration took

power here. this is important because as i've said it is the first since the new government was formed, but it's also worth noting that the international community has continued disquiet about the situation, many around the security council table and dip you lots -- and diplomats in new york have told me that they would like to see active negotiations. they would also like to see more condemnation of what israel has been doing, what standing in the way of everything like that happening and what's ending in the way is biden administration. it has decided not to be in -- be actively involved in any piece negotiations, this was a decision at the top from president biden. it does not look like a decision that will change. clearly the secretary of state will come here and see things for himself. but it's worth bearing in mind, that the biden administration is so committed to what's going on

in ukraine, that perhaps it sees what's going on here, and what's gone on in gaza and jenin, even though they are incredibly serious, as a distraction from its main policy focus. for inside story, in east jerusalem. mohammed: let's bring in our gas, from chicago, jehad abusalim is the education of policy associate at palestine activism program at the americans friends service committee. gideon levy is a writer and, -- and columnist. and julie norman is an associate professor of politics and international relations at university of college london. jehad: -- jehad abusalim, what to be expected from antony blinken's

visit? >> unfortunately, very little. because this visit, as its best will try to calm down, and tried to maintain the subtle score, but much more than this. americans, have many issues, but they are still -- fortunately, fighting for their interest, and it is about trying to calm down extremists in the israeli government, trying to finance -- because now everyone is very efficient, two or three days later, the blockade will be back because the court problems, there is no intention to even

start discussing. mohammed: jehad, the u.s. has been expressing alarm about the escalation of violence. is there anything that secretary blinken can do to offer help in this regard? jehad: i think the u.s. must hold israel accountable. the u.s. has not done so. that's why israel has been doing all of the things that it has been doing. violence in those banks, unhinged settlement of palestinian land. land seizure, stealing of personal property and attacking gaza every few months. i think, and this is a demand that many of those who support palestinian rights in the u.s., including u.s. citizens and

american organizations that want to see real change and u.s. policy have been repeating, for decades. hold israel accountable. cut military aid to israel. and use, the leverage that the u.s. has, and to put pressure on that to seize the violence, and -- mohammed: secretary blinken will discuss a two state solution during his visit. do they believe that he can actually move the needle on this front? julie: as gideon started us out, we need to be -- israel, palestine peace talks are not a priority for the administration

at this time with the war in ukraine and other things going on. with that said, it is still important for the u.s., i think that the biden administration sees this trip as important given the ultranationalist and hard-liners in the israeli government, to say very clearly that the u.s. is still firmly with a two state solution. but i don't know that we will move closer to that that just messaging to affirm that position. i would also offer, on the backdrop early in u.s. exercises this week kind of set a message to iran. there is a palestinian part of this but also israeli coordination on security efforts to counter iran is also part of this visit. mohammed: gideon, you heard them talk in the background of all of this there will be the specter of iran. from your perspective, how much is iran going to factor into the discussions that secretary blinken will have? gideon: iran is the best excuse

not to answer the palestinian question. israel wishes to make iran the main issue, and to really smash the palestinian issue, which is so much more crucial, and so much older. yes, iran, and secretary blinken will do everything possible to calm down israel to prevent any kind of friendship that the new government has in mind. but at the end of the day, it is only a cover-up. at the end of the day, the palestinian issue is the core issue. it is the main problem. and both americans and israelis break away from it with the excuse that we have iran on our hand.

and unfortunately, on this issue, we have so little -- israel is already by now very experience with -- experience with ignoring condemnation. the united states and the eu are not to ready yet to move from word to action. and as long as the world doesn't move from word to action, israel can continue with the occupations, and as much as it wants. mohammed: jehad, when he is in the west bank, secretary kelly -- secretary blinken will discuss israel palestinian relation and state how important it is to find a two state solution. do you believe that these talks

will be in any way productive, and the palace union authority has that that it is halted cooperation with israel, what impact will that have? jehad: in terms of these meetings i do not think that they will lead anywhere. and given that, somehow they manage depression the -- to pressure the netanyahu government, and reach some de-escalation of the situation. i do not think that he will be addressing the fundamental challenges, and problems that are at the root of what's happening today. with that, i believe that the israeli government, will not

soften its stance and further expansion in the west bank. we heard about the attempt to create 18,000 housing units under what the government calls the one million settlers plan. and this permits itself to complete denial of the palestinian right to self-determination. without addressing these issues, the question of palestinian existence, palestinians of people -- as people and their land is in question now. without considering these issues there will be no progress. whatever things blinken achieves, will be nothing but a band-aid that will probably temporarily calm the situation assuming -- regarding the

so-called halting of security core change, this has been painted multiple times. mohammed: julie, let me ask you, the u.s. department is saying that sec. blinken be meeting to advance the peace and security in the region, how is that achieved? julie: that's a good question that i don't think we will see a concrete answer. whenever blinken moves to the region they tend to make sure that their relationships and partnerships are kept warm on their shared interest. in terms of stabilization in the region, we have heard from state saying that some of that is focused on the elections coming up in libya and trying to support a government in sudan. they are looking at other states

in the north african region and how the u.s. might be able to support on that. all of that is alongside the backdrop of egypt's human rights record. and obviously, they will continue that ally ship for the sake of palestine and others in the region as well. i believe that these conversations in egypt are kind of overshadowed by the background. mohammed: gideon, what do you think could be expected by mr. blinken's travels to egypt. gideon: egypt faces an economical catastrophe, and -- the question is is it one who needs the american taxpayers money, or is it egypt where

people are really starving. what's happening in egypt is a humanitarian catastrophe. i hope blinken will do something , and keep promises obviously. and obviously they will discuss iran. this is an issue that is above everything else. and, in one sentence, we've mentioned again the two state solution and i would like to suggest that the two state solution doesn't mean to serve anything. a continued talk about the two state solution, as there are 7000 -- 700,000 jewish settlers in the territories is nothing more than a joke. you have to understand, the two state solution, i don't think it

was ever born. but now it is very dead. and we should dispose of its courts. mohammed: how much has u.s. policy changed in the region since the administration of former president trump? jehad: the administration of former president trump has accelerated a lot of the policies that are in israel's favor, from the standpoint of the palestinian question, israel today for bills -- today feels empowered by the region. it was able to afford during the trump era alliances that, for the new israeli government, and the government before, made --

to continue to deny the palestinians their determination. because they continued with these agreements signed in the abraham accords. the trump administration has defined israel's aunt -- israel's stance, with making sure that there are facts on the ground are not reversed. and making the palestinian cause into a political issue. mohammed: julie, we know that

there is a relationship between the biden administration and netanyahu, is the government waiting it out right now, with the hopes that after the next election cycle there will be another -- administration in the u.s.? julie: i think from the biden administration point of view, they are wary of their relationship with netanyahu, but their relationship is with the state of israel and not with anyone government. that has how they justify the continued relationship publicly. this is in contrast to trump who was cozy personally with netanyahu. from netanyahu's point of view, there are some on the right with those that would be closer to them. but as you mentioned, they have gotten pretty strong so far from

the biden administration so far. biden hasn't moved to change anything. he hasn't substantially changed anything from trump policy toward the region. the style, yes, but not the substance. in some ways, netanyahu can continue to coast with admin it -- with another administration. he is in a good position regardless of who is in the white house in two years. mohammed: our diplomatic editor was talking about the fact that many actors in the international community are hoping that there will be something that advances negotiations when it comes to the israeli palestinian peace process going forward. and they are watching this trip closely to see if anything would be put forth to improve the situation in that regard. do you think that there is any way that we could see secretary blinken in any way change the

biden administration policy even in a subtle way toward israel? julie: again, i am not looking to push for any big piece or real change, i think that the reality right now is that it doesn't meet biden administration's priorities or capabilities right now. i think we will see that many in the u.s. are hoping that lincoln -- that secretary blinken will -- really move the needle in terms of areas where they have been more rhetorical. and in places where aid can go, but in terms of real political movement, i think it's going to be something that in the ground in the region that shifts that change, or changes something

internally rather than what antony blinken or the u.s. can really impose at this time. mohammed: one other thing, we have less than a minute, how clear do you think that the international community -- how closely do you think the international unity will be paying attention? julie: this is such a core issue, and a core conflict that affects so many people, there will be eyes on it. but i think everyone is also realistic about the expectations. there is a lot of moving in international relation, i think that this is one piece in another with iran and ukraine. i think most people are keeping the expectation lower more or less. mohammed: thank you to our guest. that was jehad abusalim, gideon levy and julie norman.

go to facebook.com/a.j. inside story, you can join the conversation on twitter, our handle is at a.j. inside story. thank you from the whole team here, goodbye for now. ♪

óróxór[r [shouting] ♪♪♪ [firecracker popping] [shouting] [woman shouting] [shouting] [gun fire] [shouting] [woman shouting] [shouting] adam harvey: it's february on the battle-scarred streets