BICOM

An Israeli Jewish man was stabbed in East Jerusalem yesterday.

The 18-year-old yeshiva student, was walking to visit the grave of a Rabbi on the Mount of Olives when he was repeatedly stabbed in the chest with a screwdriver. He was attacked near the neighbouhrood of A-Tur in north Jerusalem. The man was moderately wounded and is in a stable condition.

Police believe the incident was part of the ongoing wave of terror. The attacker escaped and a manhunt is underway.

Earlier this week, the police announced plans to open new police stations in East Jerusalem, including one in A-Tur.

The attack comes as tensions rise ahead of the Jewish fast of 9 Av, which begins tomorrow night and continues into Sunday. The fast mourns and commemorates the destruction of the two Jewish temples in Jerusalem. The first was destroyed in 587BC by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar and later rebuilt on the same site. It was then destroyed again by the Romans 600 years later in 70CE.

The Islamic Movement’s Northern branch has issued a call for Muslims to pray en masse at the al-Aqsa mosque on Sunday, to ‘defend’ the site against Jews. The mosque is built on the Temple Mount, the site of the ancient Jewish temples.

According to NRG, Deputy Chairman of the Islamic Movement’‎s Northern Chapter Sheikh Kamal Khatib, said: “‎We are the closest to el-Aqsa Mosque and so we call upon everyone to come to the mosque.  To come to pray, of course, and not to harm anyone.  It’‎s our right to be there.”

Despite his apparent call for calm, authorities believe that the mass mobilisation could inflame tensions. Some Jewish groups have also called for Jews to visit the Temple Mount on 9 Av as part of commemorating the Temples, creating the potential for clashes. Israeli police are on heightened alert.