Three Israelis were killed and dozens injured in a series of Palestinian attacks Tuesday, sparking calls by Israeli officials to cordon off Arab neighborhoods and bring more troops into the city amid rising bloodshed and unease, Reuters reports.
Almost two weeks of daily violence, including a spate of attacks by knife-wielding Palestinian teenagers, has left Israelis deeply shaken and fearful of another sustained Palestinian uprising.
Two separate attacks in Jerusalem left three casualties and at least 20 people wounded on Tuesday, as Palestinian extremist groups declared it a 'Day of Rage'.
Two terrorists opened fire inside a passenger bus in Jerusalem's Armon Hanatziv neighbourhood and also stabbed some people, leaving one person dead and many critically injured. The attackers were shot by the police, according to The Jerusalem Post. Another person injured in the bus attack later succumbed to his wounds.
In another attack, a man rammed his car into a bus stop and stabbed people, killing at least one person before he was neutralised. In a third incident, a Palestinian stabbed an Israeli near Tel Aviv on Tuesday. The person suffered minor injuries. Another shooting incident was also reported near the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem, according to Haaretz.
A deadly wave of violence in Israel and Palestinian territory has seen at least 30 deaths -- of four Israelis and 26 Palestinians, including eight children -- in the last fortnight.
The current escalation was sparked, in part, by Palestinian resentment over access restrictions at the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, at a site revered by Muslims and Jews. Palestinians are also frustrated by their own weak leaders and almost 50 years of military occupation. The latest round of U.S.-brokered peace talks collapsed last year in failure.
Both Israeli and Palestinian leaders accuse the other of incitement, but Palestinian leaders appear to have little control over the actions of the mostly young attackers.
