Israeli army: Palestinian stabs Israeli, is shot dead

The woman, believed to be a teenager, is among at least 53 Palestinians who have been killed by Israeli security forces in the same period.

Also on Sunday, a Palestinian stabbed and injured an Israeli man near the Jewish settlement of Ariel in the West Bank, leaving him with serious injuries before fleeing the scene, Israeli police said.

The Palestinian nation will need no permission from (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Hamas said in the statement, stressing that it is the Palestinians’ sacred right to say prayers in the mosque and that they will “pay any price” to safeguard that right.

In the past five weeks, 10 Israelis have been killed in Palestinian attacks, mostly stabbings, while 51 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire, including 30 said by Israel to be attackers and the rest in clashes.

Next was Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem with 201, followed by the West Bank city of Ramallah with 138.

The latest violence is linked to tensions over a sensitive Jerusalem holy site revered by Jews and Muslims. Israel adamantly denies such allegations, saying they amount to incitement to violence. Nine Israelis have been killed and many more injured since the start of the month. Israel says it is justified in using lethal force to meet deadly threats.

There was no immediate comment from Abbas, but Saeb Erekat, secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organization, said Abbas told Kerry “he should look into the roots of the problem – and that is the continued occupation”.

After initially reporting that the Palestinian attackers of a motorist in the West Bank were disguised as ultra Orthodox Jewish men, the army later said reports of the disguise were unconfirmed.

Netanyahu vowed Jews would still be allowed to visit but not pray at the compound and agreed 24-hour surveillance cameras could be installed, adding these were in Israel’s interest. For Muslims, it is the Noble Sanctuary and Islam’s third holiest place.

The most arrests – 221 – occurred in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, a regular flashpoint where a few 500 Jewish settlers live under heavy protection surrounded by almost 200,000 Palestinians.