3 Palestinian stabbing attacks thwarted Tuesday
Palestinians carrying knives apprehended in Old City, Hebron and Qalandiya checkpoint; security officials say increase in attempted stabbings due to emergence of 'popular terror' in light of difficulty to carry out suicide attacks
Israeli security forces thwarted three stabbing attacks on Tuesday – two in the Jerusalem area and another in Hebron.
The security establishment estimates that the wave of stabbing attack attempts is due in part to the construction of the West Band security barrier - which has made suicide attacks within the Green Line almost impossible – and due to the intensive efforts by Israeli and Palestinian security forces.
The past year was the first of the decade without any suicide attacks in Israel.
On Tuesday evening Border Guard officers arrested a Palestinian who piqued their suspicion next to the Cave of the Patriarchs near Hebron. The arrested Palestinian, who was carrying a 6-inch knife, said that he had planned on stabbing soldiers and police officers stationed on the site.
Earlier, a 26-year-old Palestinian from Ramallah was apprehended in the Old City with an 8-inch knife on him. During his interrogation the man said he had purchased the knife with the aim of "stabbing Jews in the area" to avenge the killing of the three Nablus terrorists who had murdered settler Avshalom Meir Hai.
The Palestinian was carrying a suicide note addressed to his fiancée.
'More stone-throwing'
According to a senior Border Guard officer, documents found on the Palestinian indicated he was a member of the al-Aqsa Brigades, Fatah's armed wing. The officer said that during his interrogation the Palestinian said he was an acquaintance of one of the terrorists killed by the IDF in Nablus about two weeks ago.
At around noon another young Palestinian was detained at the Qalandiya checkpoint carrying a 12-inch knife and a Molotov cocktail. The 21-year-old told investigators that he had planned to attack Israeli security personnel.
Two weeks ago a 14-year-old Palestinian boy in possession of a pistol and knives was apprehended at the same checkpoint.
Monday evening saw three Palestinian residents of Hebron arrested near Jaffa Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem. The three admitted that they had planned to carry out a stabbing attack.
The three were arrested in a Fiat car after raising the suspicion of police officers stationed in the area. A knife was found inside the vehicle.
On Sunday Border Guard officers apprehended a Palestinian carrying a 5-inch knife.
A security official tried to explain the situation on the ground: "When there is no possibility of carrying out suicide attacks, the 'popular' terror surfaces, and we see more stone-throwing and attempted stabbing attacks."
