JERUSALEM — Israel’s prime minister on Tuesday said he would take a series of “aggressive steps” to halt a wave of violence in Israeli cities after two attacks in Jerusalem left three Israelis dead. Three Palestinians, including two attackers, were also killed.
The attacks in Jerusalem, including a deadly shooting and knifing spree on a bus and a violent hacking attack caught on video, escalated the monthlong unrest and raised the pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take action. The government has been unable to stop the violence, carried out mostly by young Palestinians unaffiliated with known militant groups and apparently acting on their own.
“Today we will decide on a series of additional aggressive steps in our war against terrorists and inciters,” Netanyahu said in a speech to parliament. “We will use, and not hesitate to use, all means at our disposal to restore calm.”
Netanyahu left a meeting of top security officials to deliver the speech, and quickly returned. The deliberations continued into the early hours of this morning, when Netanyahu’s office announced that several new measures were approved.
It said that police are now authorized “to impose a closure on, or to surround, centers of friction and incitement in Jerusalem, in accordance with security considerations.” Many of the recent attackers were from Arab areas in Jerusalem.
It also announced that “the permanent residency rights of terrorists will be revoked” and that “property of terrorists who perpetrate attacks will be confiscated.”
In addition, military units will reinforce police in some areas. Hundreds of security guards will be recruited to secure public transportation, it said.
The violence erupted last month over the Jewish New Year, fueled by rumors that Israel was plotting to take over Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site. While Israel says the rumors are unfounded, clashes have quickly spread across Israel and into the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Eight Israelis have died in a string of stabbings, shootings and the stoning of a car, while 29 Palestinians — including 12 identified by Israel as attackers — have been killed. In new bloodshed, a 27-year-old Palestinian man was shot dead in a protest in the West Bank town of Bethlehem. The Israeli military said he was hurling a firebomb at a car.
The attacks have caused a sense of panic across Israel and raised fears that the region is on the cusp of a new round of heavy violence.
