Israeli Stabbed in Jerusalem as Palestinian Leader Mahmoud Abbas Calls for End to Escalating Violence

A Palestinian woman stabbed an Israeli in Jerusalem’s Old City, close to the spot where two Israelis were stabbed to death last week. Reports say the attacker approached the man from behind and stabbed him. Despite being injured he fired at the attacker, and critically wounded her. The attack came despite a public appeal for calm by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas after four Israelis were killed in terrorist attacks and two Palestinians, including a 13-year-old boy.  “We want to reach a political solution peacefully, and no other solution,” said Abbas. “We want to minimize the risks of destruction and loss that will sprout on all sides in the current situation.” Abbas blamed Israel for the recent violence, saying it is continuing to build in the West Bank and has violated a series of agreements signed with the Palestinians. Israel accuses the Palestinians of the same thing. Sporadic clashes continued throughout the West Bank but the violence seemed to be ebbing. Meanwhile, a preliminary Israeli report found that a 13 year old Palestinian boy killed last week in Bethlehem was accidentally hit by a sniper round.