BICOM

Israel’s capital city was again hit by stabbing attacks yesterday as terror returned to Jerusalem.

A security guard at the Pisgat Ze’ev light rail stop in Jerusalem was stabbed by two Palestinian boys, aged 11 and 14 according to media reports. The guard was moderately wounded. The attackers were arrested after one was shot by the wounded guard.

In another attack, a 37-year old resident of East Jerusalem attempted to stab a police officer in the back. In video footage, the police officer turned at the last moment and succeeded in shooting the knifeman. The attacker died of his wounds.

There were also attempted stabbings in Abu Dis and near Qalqilya.

The Pisgat Ze’ev attack came as the trial of Ahmed Manasra, 13, began in Jerusalem. Manasra is accused of stabbing a 13-year-old boy and a 25-year-old man together with his 15-year-old cousin in a very similar attack.

The Israeli justice system is struggling with the challenge of terrorism and attempted murder committed by minors. In response to the recent wave of terrorism, the Justice Ministry is considering lowering the age of criminal responsibility for all crimes in Israel as well as lowering the age at which minors can be imprisoned. This change would make Israeli law closer to the one currently in force in England, where the age of criminal responsibility is 10 and children can be imprisoned in specialist institutions even below the age of 14.

In an attempt to prevent stabbing violence turning into larger terror incidents, the IDF arrested 24 Hamas activists in the area of Qalqilya yesterday. The men are accused of trying to establish a Hamas infrastructure in the area.