A Palestinian teenager who was videotaped last year slapping two Israeli soldiers has been released from prison. For Israelis she’s a provocateur, for Palestinians a protest icon.

Seventeen-year-old Palestinian Ahed Tamimi got a hero’s welcome in the West Bank after she was released from an Israeli prison. Tamimi served eight months for slapping and kicking an Israeli soldier.

A video of the assault went viral on social media and turned her into a protest icon. Addressing the crowd of supporters waving Palestinian flags, Tamimi was defiant.

She vowed that “the resistance will continue until the [Israeli] occupation is removed.”

While Palestinians are jubilant, many Israelis are angry.

Cabinet Minister Uri Ariel said Israel is way too lenient toward what he described as “terrorists” like Tamimi. He said allowing girls to attack Israeli soldiers makes the army look weak and harms deterrence.
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