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Violent demonstrations continued over the weekend in the West Bank as Palestinians protested against US President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

On Saturday, thousands of Palestinians participated in violent riots in the towns of Hebron, Al-Arroub, Tulkarm, Ramallah, Qalqilya and Nablus. The rioters threw firebombs and set tires ablaze. The IDF and Border Police responded with riot dispersal techniques and fired warning shots into the air. During the day 28 rioters were arrested and approximately 65 were injured.

On Saturday night an Israeli bus driver and two passengers were lightly wounded by stones thrown at the Arara Junction on Route 65. There were other reports of Palestinians throwing stones at police and other vehicles throughout the day.

On Sunday the riots continued near Rachel’s Tomb in Bethlehem and Tulkarm as approximately 600 Palestinians threw firebombs and rocks and rolled burning tires at IDF soldiers. No fatalities were reported in the riots in the West Bank during both days, though one Palestinian was taken to hospital in north Jerusalem.

A 46 year-old security guard, Asher Elmaliah, sustained serious injuries to the heart in a stabbing attack near the entrance to the Jerusalem central bus station. His condition stabilised after surgery, but he remains in a critical condition.

The attacker, Yassin Yusef Hafez Abu al-Kara, 24, from the Far’a refugee camp north of Nablus, was pursued and arrested shortly after the attack.

The Jerusalem Police Commander, Yoram Halevy said: “The alertness of the security guards and the quick response by the civilians and the police officers led to the apprehension of the terrorist within seconds, thereby averting further harm to innocent civilians.”

Writing in Ma’ariv, Yossi Melman says the security establishment is pleased that the outcome of the violent demonstrations has not been worse and attributes it to the fact that neither the IDF nor the PA want an escalation.

Melman warns that there is still concern about what is to come. He suggests that there are three scenarios, “a continuation of the rocket fire that will force the IDF to stronger reprisals; a major terror attack by a lone-wolf terrorist who infiltrates a settlement; and a continuation of the demonstrations and the clashes,” which are “liable, together or separately, to be a catalyst for an escalation that spins out of control”.