Jerusalem unrest propelled by Palestinian teens

JERUSALEM — His school pals call him “the Penguin,” because he is beaky and round. He’s 16 and dressed in the uniform of the Palestinian street warrior — skinny jeans, soccer tee, brand-name sneakers and a balaclava, except he keeps pulling the mask off, complaining it is itchy.

The Penguin is the face of the 2014 Palestinian uprising in Jerusalem, of the rancor and violence that have been roiling the ancient city for the past four months. The Penguin is the victim or the troublemaker, depending in part on which side of Jerusalem — Arab or Jewish — you call home.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last week that the violence is being propelled by “Islamic radicals” and Palestinian politicians. But the street protesters are mostly teenagers like the Penguin, who do not appear to be taking orders from anyone.

The Penguin and his friends were at the military checkpoint in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of the Shuafat refugee camp a week ago hurling chunks of cement at Israeli soldiers, who returned fire with tear gas and rubber bullets.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/jerusalem-unrest-propelled-by-palestinian-teens/2014/11/15/97737674-6915-11e4-a31c-77759fc1eacc_story.html?tid=hpModule_04941f10-8a79-11e2-98d9-3012c1cd8d1e