Netanyahu vows ‘harsh offensive’ after four Israelis die in attacks

Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu promised a "harsh offensive" against Palestinian violence as he flew home from New York to confront an escalating crisis that has seen four Israelis killed in attacks on the occupied West Bank and in Jerusalem's Old City.

Amid an unprecedented closure of the Old City to all Palestinians not resident there by Israeli security forces, thousands of largely ultra-orthodox Jewish mourners gathered in Jerusalem to bury the most recent victims, a rabbi and an off-duty soldier, who were stabbed to death in the Old City on Saturday night.

‘War against terror’

Mr Netanyahu was due to meet security officials later yesterday to decide on his response but vowed a “harsh offensive on Palestinian Islamic terror”, according to a statement posted on his Facebook page. He added: “We are in an all-out war against terror.”

The latest spike in violence comes at a time when many Palestinians no longer believe statehood through negotiations with Israel is possible.

Israeli commentators discussed the threat of a third uprising, though Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has so far prevented major outbreaks of violence amid growing friction with Mr Netanyahu.

The funerals of the two men killed on Saturday took place as it emerged that one of them, rabbi Nehemia Lavi (41), had died after hearing screams in the street and rushing to help Aharon Bennett (21), the second victim, and his wife and child, who were injured.

Zev Bareiton, a member of Mr Lavi’s extended family, who was among the mourners, said Lavi, an army reserve officer died after wrestling with the attacker, Palestinian Muhannad Halabi (19), for his knife.

“Israel is at war. There is no security. I want to see the government take steps to protect its citizens,” he said.

On Thursday night, an Israeli couple were shot and killed, and their four children injured, in their car by gunmen near the West Bank village of Beit Furik.

Closure of Old City

Justifying the closure of Jerusalem’s Old City during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said: “This is a drastic measure that’s being taken in order to make sure there are no further attacks during the Jewish festival, where you can see thousands of people visiting the Old City.”

According to Jerusalem expert Danny Seidemann, it is the first time since Israel captured the Old City in 1967 that it has prevented Jerusalem's Palestinians from entering.

The attacks have come amid mounting clashes on the West Bank and in Jerusalem that saw Israeli troops reportedly wound 100 Palestinians over the weekend in multiple locations. – (Guardian service)