Four attacks per day in Jerusalem: there are wounded

The regular bus to Jerusalem was the site of an attack on passengers, including an Israeli soldier. Photo: Israel Police

A man armed with a knife attacked an Israeli soldier on a regular bus in Jerusalem on Monday evening in an attempt to kidnap a machine gun. Two bus passengers were stabbed. The injury of one victim is assessed as light, the other from mild to moderate severity.

Police said the attacker was an Arab, but did not specify whether he was a Palestinian. He was shot by the security services after he jumped out of the bus and attempted to escape. The soldier was reportedly not seriously injured.

The incident occurred near the String Bridge at the entrance to Jerusalem. This is the fourth such attack in a day.

Earlier in Jerusalem there were attacks on two policemen. According to the Israeli police, an Arab youth armed with a knife attacked a border patrol officer. The incident occurred at the Lion Gate, leading to the Old City of Jerusalem.

The police said that the young man aroused suspicion because he held one hand in his pocket. After he was called, he grabbed a knife and rushed at the patrolman. As reported, an officer wearing a bulletproof vest was not injured. The attacker was shot dead on the spot by other police officers, his identity is being established.

In addition, two young Israelis were seriously injured in a settlement in East Jerusalem. According to the police, they were attacked by two Palestinian teenagers, one of whom was subsequently killed and the other wounded.

In recent weeks, a series of similar in character has been observed in Israel. armed attacks on the police and the military, committed mainly by young Arabs. Their distinctive feature is the absence of any obvious links between the attackers and extremist groups.

The spontaneous nature of such attacks makes it extremely difficult to prevent them. In recent weeks, Palestinian security forces have been shot by Israeli security forces. Five Israelis were killed in the attacks.

On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the mobilization of hundreds of reservist police officers to help restore order in Jerusalem and across the country. In turn, the leader of the radical Hamas movement in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, called what was happening the third intifada and called on the Palestinians to “continue the uprising.”