Palestinians are calling for a day of mass protests after Friday’s weekly Muslim prayers as the country braces itself for what could be more violence.
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Since the beginning of the month, at least 32 Palestinians – including people accused of attacks, as well as unarmed protesters and bystanders – and seven Israelis have been killed. Thirty-one Palestinians have been killed, including 14 identified by Israel as attackers, and the others in clashes between stone-throwers and Israeli troops. He appears increasingly irrelevant on the streets.
He noted that the person who was seriously injured in the incident was the Israeli boy, who had just left a candy store on his bicycle when he was attacked.
In an interview with National Public Radio on Friday, Kerry condemned stabbing attacks by Palestinians on Israelis.
A Palestinian assailant posing as a member of the press corps was shot dead as he stabbed an Israeli soldier at a checkpoint near Hebron, the Israeli Army said in a statement.
Hasan Breijieh, coordinator of a local committee opposed to construction of Israeli settlements on confiscated Palestinian land, told Anadolu Agency on Thursday that the Israeli authorities had presented two Palestinian families from Silwad village near Ramallah with demolition orders for their homes. “I expect our friends around the world to look at these facts, recognize them for what they are, and to condemn these Palestinian attacks and to demand” that Abbad “restore calm”. Palestinian officials have said more than 30 Palestinians have been killed in the past month. The recent attacks have largely been carried out by individuals with no known ties to militant groups.
The deployment is the latest step by Israel to beef up security in the city.
Palestinians, mostly young men, armed with knives, appear out of nowhere, stabbing as many as they can.
The Al-Aqsa compound is the third-holiest site in Islam and the most sacred for Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount.
US Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday warned Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas not to incite violence against Israelis, amid mounting unrest in Jerusalem.
“We continue to support Israel’s right to defend its citizens”, Power said, adding that Washington was concerned about increased settler violence against Palestinians.
Netanyahu also accused Abbas of lying about Israeli security forces carrying out “field executions” of Palestinians, such as 13-year-old Ahmed Manashra.
Israel bristled at U.S. suggestions it may have used excessive force to confront Palestinian stabbings, and also published hospital images it said refuted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ allegation a teen suspect had been “executed”.
There have been two organised uprisings by Palestinians against Israeli occupation, in the 1980s and early 2000s.
Lt. Col. Peter Lerner, a spokesman for the Israel’s Defense Forces, said the “burning and desecration of Joseph’s Tomb (was) a blatant violation and contradiction of the basic value of freedom of worship”. The hilltop compound is revered by Jews as the site of the biblical Temples. Jordanian civil servants and police oversee the site and allow Jews to visit, but not to pray there.
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Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked said police in the United States would act no differently in drawing their guns and using them if necessary.
