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Palestinian attacker rams car into Jerusalem rail line; 1 killed Palestinian attacker rams van into Jerusalem rail line; 1 dead
(about 1 hour later)
JERUSALEM – A Palestinian resident of East Jerusalem rammed his vehicle into a train platform Wednesday and then assaulted people with a tire iron, leaving one person dead and injuring at least 14, before being chased and shot dead by police, authorities said. JERUSALEM – A Palestinian with apparent links to the Islamist militant group Hamas rammed a minivan into a Jerusalem train platform Wednesday and then assaulted people with a tire iron, killing one person before being chased and shot dead by police, authorities said.
The attack took place just two weeks after another Palestinian resident, Abd al-Rahman al-Shaludi, plowed his car into a crowd of disembarking passengers at a different light-rail stop, killing a 3-month-old Jewish girl with U.S. citizenship and a visitor from Ecuador who was converting to Judaism. The attack took place just two weeks after another Palestinian, Abd al-Rahman al-Shaludi, plowed his car into a crowd of disembarking passengers at a different light-rail stop, killing a 3-month-old Jewish girl with U.S. citizenship and a visitor from Ecuador who was converting to Judaism.
The two incidents — which Israeli authorities are treating as terrorist attacks -- come as tensions in the city spike on several fronts. Hamas, which rules the Gaza strip and fought a 50-day war with Israel this summer, claimed responsibility for the latest attack on the light-rail system — which was initially hailed as a way to bond Jerusalem’s Arab and Jewish communities but instead has become a symbol of the city’s fissures.
The light-rail train, which runs from the mostly Jewish neighborhoods in the western part of the city through mainly Arab districts in the east, has become a lightening rod for Palestinian anger. The cars are pelted with rocks and firebombs on a near-daily basis. The two incidents — which Israeli authorities are treating as terrorist attacks — come as tensions in the city spike on several fronts.
The light-rail, which runs from the mostly Jewish neighborhoods in the western part of the city through mainly Arab districts in the east, has become a lightening rod for Palestinian anger. The cars are pelted with rocks and firebombs on a near-daily basis.
Earlier Wednesday, Palestinians and Israeli police clashed near another flashpoint in the city: the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, a holy site for both Muslims and Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount. At least 14 people were injured, news reports said.Earlier Wednesday, Palestinians and Israeli police clashed near another flashpoint in the city: the Al-Aqsa mosque compound, a holy site for both Muslims and Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount. At least 14 people were injured, news reports said.
It was the second time in less than a week the area has been drawn into the city’s unrest. Israeli authorities last week took the rare step of closing the site for a day after a Palestinian gunman wounded an Israeli-American activist who is leading campaign to allow access for Jewish worshippers. It was the second time in less than a week the area has been drawn into the city’s unrest. Israeli authorities last week took the rare step of closing the site for a day after a Palestinian gunman wounded an Israeli-American activist who is leading campaign to allow greater access for Jewish worshippers.
Jews and Christians are normally allowed to visit the site as tourists. But they are banned from praying, singing and making religious displays.Jews and Christians are normally allowed to visit the site as tourists. But they are banned from praying, singing and making religious displays.
The first and second Jewish temples — historically the center of Jewish life — were located on the same spot. Romans destroyed the second temple in A.D. 70. Jews now pray at the Western Wall, the ramparts close to the site.The first and second Jewish temples — historically the center of Jewish life — were located on the same spot. Romans destroyed the second temple in A.D. 70. Jews now pray at the Western Wall, the ramparts close to the site.
Jordan, which oversees the Al-Aqsa area under a special arrangement, said Wednesday it was recalling its ambassador to Israel and would submit a complaint at the United Nations Security Council over continuing unrest at the site. Jordan, which oversees the Al-Aqsa compound under a special arrangement, said Wednesday it was recalling its ambassador to Israel and would submit a complaint at the United Nations Security Council over continuing unrest at the site.
In Paris, Secretary of State John F. Kerry met with Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, who would not predict how long the ambassador would stay recalled and urged for the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. In Paris, Jordan’s foreign minister, Nasser Judeh, said Israel had crossed a “red line” when Israeli police clashed with Palestinians at the Al-Aqsa compound.
Tensions have been running high since the summer when three Jewish Israeli teens were abducted and murdered by Palestinians in the West Bank and, in a revenge attack, a Palestinian teenager was burned alive by Jewish extremists. “Calm has to be restored,” said Judeh in remarks before meeting with Secretary of State John F. Kerry. “Israel has to respect the sanctity of the holy sites.”
Following the attack on the light rail, local media named the suspect as Ibrahim al-Akri, a resident of Shuafat. Israel Radio said that his brother had been among the Palestinian prisoners released and deported three years ago in a deal with the militant Palestinian group Hamas to free captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Kerry condemned the light-rail attack and appealed for officials not to let “those who oppose peace to control what is happening in the region.”
Israel’s minister of internal security, Yitzhak Aharonovitch, told reporters that he would ask Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to reinstate a previous policy of destroying the family homes of those who carry out such attacks. “We urge everybody to try to step back and find a way to create enough calm and enough space to be able to negotiate these difficult issues,” Kerry added.
This policy was common during the second Intifada, or Palestinian uprising, more than a decade ago. Following the attack on the light rail, local media named the suspect as Ibrahim al-Akri, a resident of Shuafat in East Jerusalem. Israel Radio said that his brother, Musa, had been among the Palestinian prisoners released and deported three years ago in a deal with Hamas to free captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum called al-Akri “one of Jerusalem’s heroes, targeting Zionist soldiers, security officers and extremists.” He urged Palestinians in Jerusalem and the West Bank to resist Israel and “defend Al-Aqsa.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the train attack — which killed a border policeman, Jadan Assad, from the Druze village of Beit Jann in northern Israel. Netanyahu blamed “incitement” by Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose administration controls the West Bank.
“We are in an ongoing struggle for Jerusalem and I have no doubt that we will win,” Netanyahu said.
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat said such attacks would only harden the resolve of Israelis in the contested city. “This is the message we will send the terrorists. We are here to stay. We will not budge,” Barkat said.
Israel’s minister of internal security, Yitzhak Aharonovitch, told reporters at the scene that he would make a special request to Netanyahu to reinstate a previous policy of destroying the family homes of those who carry out such attacks.
This policy, which Israelis see as an effective deterrent against nationalistic attacks, was common during the second Intifada, or Palestinian uprising, more than a decade ago.
Carol Morello in Paris contributed to this report.Carol Morello in Paris contributed to this report.