News
Attacks continue across Israel including failed Palestinian car bomb
Attacks on Israelis continued over the weekend, including the first use of explosives in the current wave of violence. Meanwhile, a Palestinian died during clashes with Israeli forces in the West Bank.
On Saturday, five Israelis were wounded in two separate stabbing incidents in Jerusalem’s Old City. During the morning, a 16-year-old Palestinian stabbed two men in their 60s and then charged at Border Police who opened fire, killing the assailant. Hours later, a 19-year-old from Jerusalem’s Shuafat neighbourhood stabbed two officers before being shot and killed.
Yesterday morning, a 31-year-old Palestinian woman was stopped at a checkpoint approaching Jerusalem, when officers noticed her driving suspiciously. As she stopped, she detonated a number of gas canisters in the car, lightly injuring an officer but more seriously wounding herself. It was the first time that explosive devices have been deployed during the current violence. Israeli security forces believe that the attacker was heading for Jerusalem to carry out an attack.
Meanwhile, yesterday evening four Israelis were injured when an Arab man in his twenties from Umm-el-Fahm carried out a combined vehicle and knife attack. He rammed his car into a group of shoppers outside the Gam Shmuel shopping centre before exiting the car and stabbing others. One victim, a 19-year-old female soldier is reported to be in a serious condition.
Also yesterday, Israeli security forces clashed with local Palestinians in several locations in the West Bank. During one incident at the Beit El checkpoint, a 13-year-old Palestinian is reported to have been killed after being shot. Rocks were thrown at Israeli cars in several areas over the weekend, including the 443 motorway which links Modi’in and Jerusalem.
Meanwhile, in a cabinet meeting yesterday, new measures were approved to introduce mandatory minimum sentences on those throwing rocks. In addition, the security cabinet discussed the possibility of outlawing the extremist northern branch of the Islamic Movement, which several Israeli leaders have said is playing a large role in inciting the current unrest.