In a series of attacks in Jerusalem, a pair of Palestinian men boarded a bus and began shooting and stabbing at passengers, while another assailant rammed a car into a bus station before stabbing bystanders. The near-simultaneous attacks on Tuesday escalated the month-long wave of violence that has been plaguing the country. More than 10 people were wounded while two Israelis and one attacker were killed in the ensuing violence, according to Associated Press.
The police have closed major highways leading in and out of Jerusalem, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called an emergency meeting of his Security Cabinet, where they together planned with the police to halt the violence.
Israel Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said that officials in his country are mulling over several options aimed at bolstering security. An alternative being considered is to start making it easier for Israelis in a select number of professions and roles to buy firearms.
The rapid and almost chaotic slew of attacks ravaged upon the region in the past few weeks is considered unique, compared to the rocket attacks and other more orchestrated armed campaigns in the past. Now, attackers are shooting and driving into crowds. To prevent more attacks from happening, Netanyahu announced that about 1,600 reserve border police officers have been mobilized in Jerusalem as a "primary preventive and deterrent measure," according to CNN.
After calls to seal off Palestinian neighborhoods, the Israeil prime minister ratcheted up his rhetoric at a special session of the Knesset Tuesday evening. "Israel will settle scores with those who are killing and those who are encouraging them. Anyone who raises their hand against us will have their hand cut off," he told the session.
The attackers, who were teenagers, had no affiliation with any militant groups, and the random nature of the violence made it difficult for officials to prevent or to predict them in the future. After years of unrest, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has seen his popularity plunge, reported The Guardian.
