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Woman stabbed in Jerusalem as Israel implements new security measures
An Israeli woman was moderately wounded yesterday evening when she was stabbed by an Arab assailant from East Jerusalem at the city’s central bus station.
It had been a day of relative quiet following Tuesday’s bloody “Day of Rage” which saw three Israelis murdered. There had been just one major incident during the day, when an Arab youth dressed in camouflage fatigues attempted to stab Border Police officers at the Old City’s Damascus Gate. The attacker was shot dead by officers at the scene.
However, during the evening a 72-year-old woman was stabbed by 23-year-old Ahmed Shaaban, from the Ras Al-Amud neighbourhood of East Jerusalem, as she attempted to board a bus at the busy central bus station. She managed to climb on the bus and the driver closed the door, before Shaaban attempted to board another bus before being shot dead by police. Shaaban had been imprisoned in Israel between 2002 and 2005 for terrorist activities.
Following a security cabinet decision on Tuesday evening, Israeli forces yesterday began implementing new measures designed to combat the current wave of attacks. Six IDF companies were deployed across Israeli cities and junctions deemed to be potential flashpoints, in order to assist the policing efforts there. In addition, security roadblocks were set up at the entrance to a number of Arab neighbourhoods in East Jerusalem. Many of the recent attackers have come from these areas, in which residents have typically opted not to become Israeli citizens but are entitled to free movement throughout Israel.
The other measures approved by the security cabinet include withdrawal of permanent residency status for those who carry out terror attacks and the expedited destruction of their homes, in order to deter future would-be terrorists.
Meanwhile, clashes took place again on the Gaza border between IDF troops and Gazan rioters. There have been almost daily confrontations there during the past week and the IDF is sending reinforcements to the area. Three Palestinians were reportedly wounded during yesterday’s clashes.