The Media Line Violent Palestinian Attacks Continue Across Israel

Jerusalem’s mayor advises weapon owners to carry their guns in the city

[Jerusalem] – Nir Barkat, the mayor of Jerusalem, has called on citizens who own a firearm to carry it at all times in response to a wave of violence in recent days. In three separate incidents on Thursday Palestinians stabbed Israelis, with one attack taking place in Jerusalem, a second in Tel Aviv, and a third near the West Bank Jewish community of Kiryat Arba. The stabbings came less than twenty-four hours after a spate of attacks across the country the previous day and cap a week that has seen four Israelis killed and more than a dozen wounded, some seriously. Several of the Palestinian attackers were shot and killed, as well as a 13-year-old Palestinians killed by mistake.

In an effort to control the escalating violence Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu ordered police to prevent ministers and Members of the Knesset (MKs) from going to the Temple Mount. Also known as Al-Haram Ash-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary) by Muslims, the site, and conflict over who has access to it, are seen as central to recent tensions.

Shortly after the first attack Micky Rosenfeld, the Police spokesman described the incident to The Media Line. “A 19 year old Arab terrorist was captured after he stabbed a 25 year old yeshiva student,” Rosenfeld said, describing the victim’s injuries as serious. The attack occurred near a stop for the Jerusalem light rail in the north of the city and ended when a transportation security guard restrained the assailant. Jerusalem’s Old City – the epicenter of much of the recent tensions – appeared quiet with a large police deployment in attendance, Rosenfeld said.

The second incident of the day took place in Tel Aviv, a city which has seen attacks less frequently than Jerusalem. A Palestinian man, believed to be a worker from a nearby construction site, stabbed a female soldier with a screw driver and stole her weapon. Three other individuals were also stabbed in the incident. The attacker fled the scene and was pursued and shot dead by another soldier who witnessed the event.

A third attack took place in the West Bank, near the Jewish community of Kiryat Arba, where an Israeli suffered serious injuries after being stabbed in the back. The attacker fled the scene and evaded arrest.

“One advantage that Israel has is that there are quite a few ex-members of military units with operational combat experience,” Nir Barkat, the mayor of Jerusalem said, urging licensed gun owners to carry their weapons. Armed passersby could prevent or end attacks and boost civilians’ feelings of security, the mayor suggested.

In Israel, firearms are a common sight, carried by uniformed or off-duty soldiers, police officers, security guards and occasionally by civilians.

Weapons are however not easily accessible, Simon Perry, a lecturer in criminology at the Hebrew University, told The Media Line. Guns are far more readily available in the United States compared to Israel, Perry said. He mentioned a friend who was refused permission to get a license for a handgun in Israel – despite being a reserve army colonel, who was issued with an assault rifle and commanded a battalion of soldiers.

“You have to have a good reason – it’s not easy,” Perry, who served for 30 years in the Israeli Police, said. Those living in dangerous areas or those whose profession required it could get a license, he concluded.

In response to the recent surge in attacks local social media forums have featured articles and videos suggesting how to defend yourself from an attack. Advice to remain vigilant, be suspicious of strangers and to carry pepper spray were mentioned in one post. Another offered tips on buying pepper spray.

The Prime Minister’s attempt to prevent further escalations by banning MKs from going to the Temple Mount was challenged by Jamal Zahalka (Joint List) who attacked Netanyahu’s right to dictate where members of parliament can or cannot go. Zahalka was prevented from entering the compound by police officers on Thursday. Both Arab politicians and right-wing Jewish law makers were angered by the Prime Ministers’ directive to security personnel.

Banning MKs from the Temple Mount was “a good first step to calm things down… (one) he (Netanyahu) should have taken… sooner,” Lior Lehrf, a researcher with the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies, told The Media Line. At the heart of the current violence is the status quo that governs the running of the Jerusalem holy site. To Israelis, Jewish groups campaigning for the right to pray on the Temple Mount are a fringe element, but Palestinians perceive this desire as government policy, Lehrf suggested. This is in part due to a change in the last ten years, by which “even Knesset members and ministers,” are part of those campaigning for a change to the status quo, the researcher suggested.

While this continues, and while the peace process remains stalled, attacks could continue, Lehrf suggested, because of the difficulty security forces have in predicting the actions of lone individuals.

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