Israeli, 3 Palestinians Killed in Attacks ahead of Kerry Visit
An Israeli and three Palestinian attackers -- including a schoolgirl -- were killed in another day of violence Monday, on the eve of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's visit in a bid to ease the bloodshed.
In the earliest attack, the first in Jerusalem for nearly two weeks, two teenaged girls stabbed an elderly man before being shot, police said.
A security camera video of the attack appeared to show the girls -- aged 14 and 16 -- in school uniform chasing a man with scissors before being shot by a member of the security forces.
He then appears to shoot one of them again while already collapsed on the ground.
One of the two girls, who were apparently cousins, died while the other was in critical condition.
The man they targeted was identified as a 70-year-old Palestinian, possibly confused for an Israeli Jew, who suffered light injuries.
One of the girls' brothers had died two years ago during clashes with Israeli security forces, Palestinian security sources said.
Later an Israeli was stabbed to death while another was seriously wounded at a petrol station on the edge of the West Bank.
"A Palestinian murdered an Israeli and wounded another in an attack at a gas station on route 443," the Israeli army said, referring to a main road between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv that passes in part though the West Bank.
The assailant was shot dead at the scene, while the second victim was evacuated for medical treatment, said the army, which declined to provide more details about the deceased when asked by AFP.
In the third attack, a Palestinian was shot dead when trying to stab an Israeli soldier near Huwara to the south of Nablus.
The Palestinian health ministry identified the assailant as 16-year-old Khalil Hashash.
An 18-year-old Palestinian woman, identified by medical sources as Samah Abdullah, was shot and severely wounded in the same attack, apparently by accident.
The stabbings were the latest in a wave of violence since October 1 that has left 92 Palestinians dead, including one Arab Israeli, as well as 17 Israelis, an American and an Eritrean.
More than half of the Palestinians killed have been alleged attackers, while others were shot during demonstrations and clashes with Israeli security forces, including along the Gaza border.
- 'No limits' -
The stabbings, shootings and car rammings have overwhelmingly been carried out by so-called "lone wolf" attackers, making it harder for Israel to predict where and when the next assault will come.
Attacks initially focused in and around Jerusalem in early October before shifting to the flashpoint West Bank city of Hebron.
In recent days, however, they have flared again in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has come under pressure to tighten security and on Monday he discussed a range of new measures in the West Bank.
The Israeli leader announced tighter controls on Palestinian vehicles and an increase in the number of so-called "bypass roads" which create separate routes for Palestinians and Israeli settlers.
During a visit to a West Bank settlement that has been the scene of numerous attacks, he also said work permits would be withdrawn from the families of alleged attackers.
Netanyahu added there would be "no limits" on the powers of Israeli soldiers in the West Bank.
Israel has already adopted the controversial policy of demolishing the homes of attackers which it says acts as a deterrent.
- Little optimism -
Against this backdrop, Kerry arrives for talks on Tuesday with Netanyahu and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.
The top U.S. diplomat has repeatedly called for both sides to take "concrete steps" to reduce tension, end provocative rhetoric and ensure access to Jerusalem holy sites.
But his words have had little impact on the ground.
There is also little optimism of moving towards a return to peace talks between the two sides, which broke down more than 18 months ago.
"There's no agreement to be reached between the parties right now," one senior U.S. official said.
Kerry's task instead is to simply try to walk the parties back from the current conflict.
Source: Agence France Presse
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