Israel begins easing a few Jerusalem security measures

Israel’s High Court suspended his detention on August 19 while he was receiving medical treatment following his hunger strike, which twice left him in a coma.

72 Palestinians were also killed by Israeli forces and civilians during October.

A Palestinian careened his auto into an Israeli Border Police officer north of Hebron on Wednesday in the latest terror attack to occur near the restive West Bank city.

In Gaza, the Islamist group Hamas that controls the territory has openly encouraged violence, publishing videos online that urge Palestinians to join a new “knife intifada”, or uprising, against Israeli occupation.

“These Palestinian kids were indoctrinated on a daily basis in schools, in kindergarten even, in children’s magazines published by the Palestinian Authority, by Palestinian TV”, said Yuval Steinitz, Israel’s energy minister, at a media briefing last month, referring to Palestinian children who had engaged in acts of violence aimed at Israelis.

Elsewhere, Israeli forces stormed a university in the town of Abu Dis after confrontations with students protesting Israel’s separation barrier and Palestinian deaths.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army closed the neighbourhood of Ras Al-Amood in Silwan, south of Al-Aqsa Mosque, for the third day, closing schools.

Israel has been withholding the bodies of suspected assailants as part of measures to dissuade attacks on Jews.

It was hoped that Jordan’s engagement could go a long way in easing the tensions.

Ziad Natsheh, who buried his son Tareq, 17, said as he received condolences Saturday that he was relieved to give him a “dignified burial”.

Palestinian officials said that after Wednesday’s incident the army sealed off the surrounding area and collected video from the security cameras of shops and buildings.

Revered by both Muslims and Jews, the Ibrahimi Mosque compound – which Jews call the “Tomb of Patriarchs” – is believed to contain the graves of the prophets Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The army has accused them of trying to stab Israeli security forces or Jewish settlers. Palestinians say the violence is due to a lack of hope for gaining independence after years of failed peace efforts.