Two Palestinians stabbed and killed an Israeli and seriously injured another at the entrance to Jerusalem’s old city before being shot and killed by border police in the latest incident in a wave of violence.
A third Israeli was accidently shot and killed by a policewoman who had rushed to the scene from the nearby Jaffa gate entrance to the old city.
The attack occurred despite stepped-up security measures ahead of the Christmas period when thousands of Christian pilgrims are expected to visit the old city.
One of the assailants was killed at the scene; the other died of his wounds in hospital. Palestinian sources identified the attackers as a 19- and a 20-year-old from the Qalandiya refugee camp in northern Jerusalem. Both had served time in Israeli jails for security offences but were not identified with any militant group.
Quiet week
The latest attack came after a relatively quiet week following more than three months of stabbings, car rammings and attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers in Israel and the West Bank.
Israel has drafted extra security forces into Jerusalem and the West Bank and has stepped up punitive measures – such as demolishing the homes of militants – but has failed to quell the attacks which tend to be perpetrated by young Palestinians, invariably acting alone and often with no militant affiliations.
Witnesses said one of the victims struggled with his assailant on the ground and was stabbed multiple times.
“Two people were struggling and at first I thought it was a game,” Yael, an eyewitness who was driving past, told Israeli radio. “I saw the attacker trying to stab his victim with all his might. The victim tried to get away from him, but he couldn’t.”
Police spokesman Asi Aharoni said women border police officers noticed a crowd of people running in panic towards their position at the Jaffa gate. “They bravely ran to the siteand identified two terrorists with knives while one was stabbing someone. They prevented more innocent people from getting hurt.”
Video footage showed a passerby with a metal bar beating one of the Palestinians lying on the ground after he had been shot. Police said he was still alive and holding a knife and was therefore still considered a threat.
Since October, 118 Palestinians, 19 Israelis and an American have died.