At least two people have been killed and several others injured in attacks at a supermarket and outside Jerusalem's Old City.
- Palestinian shot dead outside Jerusalem Old City
- Hundreds attend funeral of stabbed Israeli soldier
The news
Israeli security services have shot dead a Palestinian man after he stabbed two police officers outside Jerusalem’s Old City on Friday.
This is a new, troubling phase
Two Israelis injured, Palestinian attacker killed in #Jerusalem (AFP pic) https://t.co/WjJwydkpbppic.twitter.com/4lgkb2AwHL
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) February 19, 2016
The two officers, who are in their twenties, were lightly wounded.
The attacker is thought to be a 20-year-old from East Jerusalem.
A female bystander is believed to have been injured when the security forces opened fire.
West Bank stabbing
Terror victim's wife at funeral: 'You didn’t have a gun but you ran… https://t.co/ILZcq33JqK#ArabIsraeliConflictpic.twitter.com/Rj47Pj8cV0
— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) February 19, 2016
It comes a day after a 21-year-old off-duty soldier was stabbed to death in the West Bank.
A second person was seriously wounded in the attack, which was carried out by two Palestinian youths.
Off-duty IDF soldier killed in West Bank stabbing attack laid to rest… https://t.co/rqq6kYLhNa#ArabIsraeliConflictpic.twitter.com/52S79wMM0n
— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) February 19, 2016
Hundreds of Israelis turned out on Friday for the funeral of Sergeant Tuvia Weissman.
Rising tension – the context
This latest wave of violence began last October.
It has been fuelled by factors including a dispute over Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque.
Report: #Israel started building 1,800 house in West Bank Jewish #settlements in 2015 https://t.co/8074U5zZ6ppic.twitter.com/QtTpf0h2TE
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) February 14, 2016
The growth of Jewish settlements on land Palestinians have earmarked for an independent state is another major source of disagreement.
- 28 Israeli citizens have been killed by Palestinians
- A US citizen has also been killed
Israel says young Palestinians are being incited to violence by their leaders and by Islamist groups calling for Israel’s destruction.
- 164 Palestinians, many of whom were teenagers, have been killed by Israeli security forces
- Israel says 108 were attackers
- The others died during violent protests
Palestinian leaders say that, with no breakthrough on the horizon, desperate youngsters see no future ahead.
What they are saying
“The terrorist attacked a police team from behind, stabbed and lightly wounded them. The team responded with gunfire and neutralised teh terrorist.” – Luba Samri, Israeli police spokesperson.
“This is a new, troubling phase. Israeli and Palestinian leaders must provide a political horizon to their people and reject incitement by extremists in their own camps.” – Nickolay Mladenov, UN envoy on Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking, briefing UN Security Council on Thursday.
