Israeli police arrest Palestinian laborer who assaulted 2 at Israeli construction sites

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas described the events of the last three months as a “justified popular uprising” and said that young Palestinian demonstrators were “driven by despair [at the fact] that a two-state solution is not coming”.

“The armed militants in refugee camps, including Fatah [Abbas’s party] have not moved so far, but a change in behaviour of Israeli forces, the loss of legitimacy of leaders and a process of demoralisation within Palestinian security forces could lead to more attacks”, Shikaki explained. Abbas has previously refrained from either endorsing or condemning the attacks, often referring to the wave of violence as understandable but not in the best interests of the Palestinian people.

Only 45 per cent of Palestinians said they supported the two-state solution, the idea of Israel and an independent Palestinian state living side by side.

The poll found that two-thirds of Palestinians support the current wave of stabbings. She stated cops officers found an axe in Hassoneh’s vehicle, suggesting he meant to attack Israelis. At least 115 Palestinians have died by Israeli fire in the same period, of whom 75 are said by Israel to be assailants.

Israeli forces on Tuesday detained an 8-year-old Palestinian in occupied East Jerusalem, witnesses said.

Kerry doesn’t blame Israel outright for the negotiations’ failure, but he and other State Department officials convey that a two-state solution could happen if only Israel willed it. He mentions settlements and demolitions of Palestinian houses in the West Bank as obstacles to peace.

“There can never be justification for wanton attacks on civilians like we saw today”, said Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev.

According to the survey, 65% of Palestinians also want Abbas to resign, and if presidential elections took place he would lose to Hamas, the Islamist movement that rules the Gaza Strip.

After the attack on Monday afternoon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an emergency meeting with Mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan and Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz where he is reported to have ordered protective barriers to be installed at hundreds of Jerusalem bus stops.

He praised the “immediate alertness” of bystanders who averted “a grave tragedy”.