At least nine Israelis have been killed in attacks by individual Palestinians during the same time period.
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A 20-year-old Israeli Border Police Officer is fighting for his life after being slammed by a terrorist in a car-ramming attack in the West Bank near Hebron Wednesday.
Israeli police claimed, in a press statement, that soldiers shot a Palestinian driving a Palestinian registered vehicle after running over two soldiers on Road 60 at Halhoul junction.
Since then Palestinian protesters have stepped up attacks with stones against Israeli security forces and civilians in the West Bank and in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem.
The Israeli military raided a Palestinian radio station Tuesday in the West Bank and confiscated equipment it said was being used to broadcast calls to attack Israelis.
Clashes erupted in the area between Palestinian youth and Israeli forces following the incident and a local resident of Halhul, Mohammed Rabah, told Ma’an that all entrances of Halhul had been closed. Eleven Israelis have died, mostly in stabbing attacks, while 69 Palestinians have been killed, including 43 people labeled by Israel as attackers. He died and two passengers were hurt after Palestinians pelted their vehicle with rocks as they drove home from a meal marking the Jewish New Year in Jerusalem.
The violence has been fueled by rumors among Palestinians that Israel was plotting to take over the sensitive Jerusalem holy site sacred to both Jews and Muslims.
Israel’s parliament has passed a law toughening penalties against Palestinian rock throwers. More than 20 bodies of stabbing suspects have not been returned to families for burial.
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During a PLO executive council meeting on Wednesday, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas reiterated Israeli authorities must enforce the status quo of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound.
