More violence between Palestinians, Arabs and Israelis

The demonstration was called in solidarity with Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem and followed a spate of attacks by Palestinians against Israelis and reprisals by Jews against Arabs.

A week of violence between Israelis and Palestinians spread to the Gaza Strip on Friday, with Israeli troops killing six in clashes on the border and Islamist movement Hamas calling for more unrest.

“Israelis are acting with bravery, courage, restraint and determination to neutralize and kill the terrorists in the act”, Netanyahu told reporters at a press conference with top defense officials. He pointed to stabbings in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv this week where attackers were quickly shot.

Stabbing attacks in the West Bank, Jerusalem and Israel itself along with rioting, have raised fears of a third Palestinian intifada, following a first that began in 1987 and a second in 2000. However Israeli officials have downplayed that possibility, saying this is the kind of violent spike Israel has faced periodically in recent decades. Four Palestinians were killed after carrying out attacks against Israelis since Saturday. They have been putting intense pressure on Netanyahu to respond to the surge in violence with a tough crackdown and increased settlement activity.

Arab Israelis are the descendants of Palestinians who remained after the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 and hold Israeli citizenship. He and Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas have tried to lower tensions in recent days but both appear unable to contain the unrest.

The violence erupted last month during the Jewish new year with clashes at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site, a hilltop compound revered by Muslim and Jews.

Many Palestinians believe Israel is trying to expand the Jewish presence at the site, a claim Israel adamantly denies.

Under a longstanding arrangement, non-Muslims are allowed to visit, but not pray, during specific hours.

Abbas has spoken out against violence and in favour of “peaceful, popular resistance”, but many youths are frustrated with his leadership as well as Israel’s government.

Spokeswoman Luba Samri said Friday that men under 45 are barred from the Al-Aqsa mosque compound.

It later spread to Arab neighborhoods of east Jerusalem and to the West Bank.

But on Wednesday, new stabbings occurred outside a crowded mall in central Israel and in a southern Israeli town. The attack is the latest in a bout of violence that began three weeks ago and has spilled over into Israel’s heartland.

Israel has significantly beefed up security in response to the violence in Jerusalem, and on Thursday police set up metal detectors at the entrance to Israel’s Old City.

Recent days have seen a series of attacks by young Palestinians wielding household items like kitchen knives, screwdrivers and even a vegetable peeler.

The statement, which was reported by Masralarabia.com, said: “the continuation of the Israeli occupation authorities’ escalation and aggression against the Palestinians ushers in an explosion of the situation [that may lead to] losing control”. “The high number of casualties, in particular those resulting from the use of live ammunition by Israeli security forces, raise concerns of excessive use of force”, he said.

In another sign of tensions, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat – a former military officer and licensed gun owner – defended his decision to carry a weapon during a visit this week to an Arab neighborhood.