Israel: Stabbings as violence flares in Palestinian 'Day of Rage'

Israeli police officers survey the scene of a stabbing in Jerusalem, October 12, 2015 Reuters

A string of Palestinian attacks on Jews in Jerusalem and a suburb of Tel Aviv have left at least two dead and many wounded as unrest mounts following protests in the Temple Mount area.

The main Palestinian factions, including the Western-backed Fatah movement and the militant Hamas group, declared a "Day of Rage" on Tuesday across the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.

Sixteen people were wounded, eight of them seriously, when two gunmen opened fire on a bus in Jerusalem. They were shot by the police and at least one is thought to have died.

Elsewhere in Jerusalem a man ran over three people at a bus stop and then stabbed them.

In Tel Aviv, a Palestinian man stabbed an Israeli at a bus stop. The attacker was seized by passers-by and reportedly beaten. An amateur video distributed by police showed several men kicking and beating him as he lay on the ground. The ambulance service said he was seriously hurt.

Later an Israeli woman was stabbed and wounded in a separate attack in Raanana. The attacker was arrested.

article,article,article,article,article Related

So far six Israelis have died in attacks during two weeks of violent protests over an increasing Jewish presence in the al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem, seen as provocative by Palestinians who believe that Jews want to force them to open the area for Jewish prayers. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied that he intends this.

Palestinian casualties so far amount to 27, including nine alleged attackers. Eight of those who have died were children. More than 500 people were injured in a 72-hour period, a third of whom were shot with live ammunition or rubber-tipped bullets.

The rise in tensions is also linked to the failure of the peace process, which has stalled in the face of the continued expansion of Jewish settlements on Palestian territory and the weakness of Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah government.

related articles
The contradiction at the heart of Christian Zionism
The contradiction at the heart of Christian Zionism

The contradiction at the heart of Christian Zionism

Jerusalem\'s Temple Mount: Why it\'s such a flashpoint for Jews and Muslims
Jerusalem's Temple Mount: Why it's such a flashpoint for Jews and Muslims

Jerusalem's Temple Mount: Why it's such a flashpoint for Jews and Muslims

Israel and Palestine: Is the tinderbox about to explode?
Israel and Palestine: Is the tinderbox about to explode?

Israel and Palestine: Is the tinderbox about to explode?

Violence continues in Jerusalem, Israel & West Bank
Violence continues in Jerusalem, Israel & West Bank

Violence continues in Jerusalem, Israel & West Bank

4 Israelis and 22 Palestinians have died in under 2 weeks in violent upsurge
4 Israelis and 22 Palestinians have died in under 2 weeks in violent upsurge

4 Israelis and 22 Palestinians have died in under 2 weeks in violent upsurge

Jerusalem: Palestinian shot dead by Israeli police
Jerusalem: Palestinian shot dead by Israeli police

Jerusalem: Palestinian shot dead by Israeli police

News
Christian woman convicted over sign that offered conversation in abortion clinic buffer zone
Christian woman convicted over sign that offered conversation in abortion clinic buffer zone

A Christian woman has been convicted of breaching an abortion clinic buffer zone after holding a sign offering help. 

Myanmar Christians face dual crisis of earthquake and marginalisation
Myanmar Christians face dual crisis of earthquake and marginalisation

The 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar last week has intensified the hardship faced by the country’s religious minorities, plunging already vulnerable Christian communities into deeper crisis and displacement.

Jerusalem bishop calls for 'courageous' leadership to bring peace
Jerusalem bishop calls for 'courageous' leadership to bring peace

A bishop from Jerusalem has told of the plight of ordinary people in the West Bank.

Three hospitalised as Islamist attacks Christian festival in Iraq
Three hospitalised as Islamist attacks Christian festival in Iraq

An apparent lone Islamist hospitalised three people at a Christian festival