Israel deploys hundreds of soldiers in Jerusalem

The wave of violence that’s embroiled Israel escalated this weekend when an Arab terrorist attacked a bus station, killing an Israeli soldier and wounding 10 others.

In the past month, nine Israelis have been killed in Palestinian attacks and 41 Palestinians have been shot and killed by Israelis, including 20 labeled as attackers.

The IS group has no organized presence in the West Bank or Gaza Strip. Palestinians in the strangulated Jerusalem neighborhood will have little choice but to leave to the West Bank enclaves; and, to make things even clearer, deportations and retraction of their Israeli citizenship are already considered.

The attack came as Israel further tightened security around the country, highlighted by the construction of a barrier separating Jewish and Arab neighborhoods in east Jerusalem. To these more liberal Israelis, the apparently perpetual occupation of the Palestinians is a moral stain that also, by tying Israel inexorably to a Palestinian population equal to its 6 million Jews, contains the seeds of self-inflicted ruination.

Palestinians say they have suffered years of official discrimination, such as severe restrictions on building rights and the threat of residency rights being revoked if they move to the West Bank because the housing shortage in Arab areas. They told police they meant to repaint the shrine after the fire. When they arrived they were confronted by Palestinians and a violent clash ensued.

They were not reported to have been seriously injured.

In the light drizzle, against a background of Matisyahu, the president of the Madrid Jewish Community, David Hatchwell, also addressed the gathering, enumerated the recent terror attacks, pointing a warning finger at Palestinian “made in the Middle East” terrorism, comparing it to other terrorism that is being exported, and warning of potential danger to Europe and Spain if the government does not take a clear stance against terror.

One of the gunmen had a rifle and the other was armed with a pistol, police said. The officer was lightly wounded.

But they have been buried by the second intifada, in which organized deadly attacks targeted Israelis from 2000 to 2005, and by three wars in Gaza that killed thousands of Palestinians.

Those arrested were to be presented to a judge on accusations of violating a military order after being examined at hospital. The military said Sunday’s visit was not, and the worshippers had no permit.

Israel accuses the Palestinians of inciting to violence through the false claims.

Many Jews believe it to be the final resting place of the biblical patriarch Joseph, while Muslims believe an Islamic cleric, Sheikh Yussef (Joseph) Dawiqat, was buried there two centuries ago.

The demonstration drew to a close after the Spanish and Israeli national anthems sounded. Palestinians say the violence is the result of almost 50 years of Israeli occupation, more than two decades of failed peace efforts and a lack of hope for gaining independence anytime soon.

Forty-two Palestinians and eight Israelis have died in recent violence, which was in part triggered by Palestinians’ anger over what they see as increased Jewish encroachment on Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque compound. Netanyahu denies he intends to change the status quo, though senior coalition members have been pushing for Jewish prayer rights at the site.