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What happened: The Israel Police have deployed extra forces around friction points in Jerusalem and elsewhere as the country remains on high alert ahead of Friday prayers.

• Thousands of Palestinians are expected to attend Friday prayers at the Temple Mount today against the backdrop of several lethal terror attacks last month and with Ramadan due to begin tomorrow.
• 3,000 police officers will be deployed around the Old City, at flashpoints and along pathways that Palestinian and Israeli Muslims will take to reach the holy site.
• During a situation assessment session in East Jerusalem, Jerusalem Police Chief Doron Turgeman noted the large number of important holidays that all three faiths will celebrate over the next month – Ramadan, Passover, Easter, Holocaust Remembrance Day, Memorial Day and Independence Day. He said the police would do all it can to ensure freedom of worship and prayer during every holiday.
• Prime Minister Bennett and Public Security Minister Bar-Lev have agreed to add an extra £43m to the police budget. The funds will be used to recruit additional police officers and to form a Border Police brigade based on reservists.
• The police will also procure more than 6,000 ceramic armour vests, 4,000 helmets, and 40 motorcycles.
• Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said: “Strong police equals a strong State of Israel. We are working with all tools and in all areas to restore security, and a sense of security to the citizens of Israel.”
• Whilst Jerusalem remained quiet yesterday, a 28-year-old resident of the Etzion bloc was seriously wounded when a Palestinian stabbed him with a screwdriver.
• The incident occurred on an intercity bus, on Route 60 adjacent to the settlement of Neve Daniel. Another armed passenger drew his gun and shot the stabber.

Context: The start of Ramadan – usually a period of tensions for Israel and the Palestinians – will begin tomorrow as Israel is on a state of high alert following a month of several terrorist attacks in Israel.

• 11 Israelis were killed in three attacks in the space of eight days. On Sunday, two Border Police officers were killed in a shooting attack in Hadera. The Israeli-Arab gunmen were affiliated with ISIS.
• Five days earlier, four people were killed in a terror attack in Beer Sheva. The terrorist was an Israeli citizen previously convicted of attempting to join ISIS.
• A preliminary investigation by the security establishment has found that Diaa Hamarsheh, who carried out the deadly terrorist attack in Bnei Brak this week, entered Israel through a breach in the fence and drove from there to Bnei Brak in the car of an Israeli citizen.
• Following that attack, the IDF entered the area of Jenin and the village Yaabed, which was where Hamarsheh came from, and arrested several suspects who intended to carry out attacks in the coming days.
• During the arrests, armed Palestinian fired upon the soldiers, which resulted in three Palestinians killed and one IDF soldier wounded.
• The IDF has also reinforced its deployments in the West Bank and Gaza periphery with 14 extra Battalions of combat units, sniper troops and special forces, in order to prevent incidents and respond as quickly as possible to threats.
• The army is also supporting the Israel Police with about 1,000 soldiers from units currently in training to assist with domestic security.
• On Wednesday, Prime Minister Bennett convened the security cabinet and made several decisions to deal with the rise of violence:
  • Increase the presence of security forces at friction points;
  • Reinforce units along the Green Line and advance a plan to rebuild the security barrier;
  • Increase counter-terrorism operations among those promoting and identify with ISIS;
  • Expand the operation of confiscating illegal weapons in the Arab sectors;
  • Increased monitoring of incitement on social networks and the taking of appropriate actions;
  • To revoke work permits among those who aid terrorists and to move forward quickly on the demolition of their homes;
  • Beef up the Police with additional funds and personnel.
• Security officials say the Shin Bet has thwarted five terrorist operatives who were planning to carry out attacks.

Looking Ahead: The security establishment is preparing for the possibility that the security tension will last several weeks.

• IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi has warned that the current wave of terror attacks in Israel could spread to Israeli and Jewish targets around the world.
• Despite the high state of alert, the security cabinet decided to push ahead with the easing of restrictions for Palestinians during Ramadan
• Israel will issue additional entry permits for elderly Muslim worshipers to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, expand the hours of such permits, and implement other measures aimed at easing freedom of movement for Palestinians.