A Palestinian journalist working for the local radio station Al-Hurriyya inspects damage caused by the Israeli army to the radio’s offices in the occupied West Bank city of al-Khalil, November 3, 2015.
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Hours later, a Palestinian motorist opened fire on a line of cars stuck in traffic in Gush Etzion, south of Jerusalem in the West Bank. The driver then continued to the next junction and rammed the vehicle into a group of pedestrians at a crowded bus stop. The military said soldiers shot at the attacker, although his condition and identity were unknown.
Police are sweeping the city of Kiryat Gat to try and apprehend the attacker.
“I heard cries and my Arab employee told me, “He’s stabbing”, Israel Bachar, a 65-year-old who runs a print shop, said.
Schwartz graduated this year from the Maimonides School in Brookline, Massachusetts.
The U.S. Department of State said it extended its condolences to his family and friends. Israeli forces have a history of using unjustified or excessive force against Palestinian protesters. Still, authorities have failed to halt the seemingly spontaneous attacks.
The Tel Aviv stabbing was the first attack to take place in Israel’s commercial capital since the wave of unrest erupted in October. “We mourn all those lost in today’s tragic attacks, and will remain steadfast in our support for the people of Israel during this ongoing wave of terrorism”.
The military said El-Khalil had encouraged stabbings and glorified Palestinian attackers.
Member of Parliament Meyer Habib, a French-Israeli who represents French citizens overseas in Israel and other countries, said it was time for the free world to “put an end to jihad, once and for all, Sunni and Shi’ite”.
Yaakov Don, 49, a teacher and father of four, and Palestinian Shadi Arafeh, 24, of Hebron were also killed in the attack.
Amnesty worldwide has also documented a pattern of unlawful killings, including extrajudicial executions, by Israeli forces against Palestinian civilians and a series of attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinian civilians and homes over the past two months.
“There is no agreement to be reached between the parties now”, the official said, adding: “There is nothing we’re trying to get them to agree to, we’re trying to encourage both of them to do the kind of things that will be helpful and in their interest and our interest in preserving stability”.
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Tens of thousands of Palestinians with permits travel into Israel daily and are traditionally perceived as low threat. Several politicians have urged licensed gun owners to carry their weapons and there have been several bloody accidents. The driver of the Israeli auto was wounded in that attack.
