Benjamin Netanyahu to crack down on Palestinian violence

The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has called an emergency meeting for Tuesday evening to discuss recent Palestinian attacks, hours after an Israeli died when his car was stoned and violence broke out at Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site for a second day in a row.

“The Prime Minister views with great severity the throwing of rocks and fire bombs against Israeli citizens and intends to fight the phenomena by all means, including increasing punishment and enforcement,” an official said.

Earlier today, an Israeli died after attackers pelted his car with rocks in Jerusalem.

Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said the man was injured as he was driving home from a meal marking the Jewish new year and later died of his injuries. She said the identity of the attackers was unknown but that they were likely from a nearby Arab neighborhood.

Police said they are investigating and would not elaborate. Israeli media reported the driver lost control of the wheel following a heart attack, which might have been triggered by the rocks thrown at his car. Israeli officials did not confirm those reports.

There has been a spike in Palestinian violence against Israeli civilians and soldiers over the past year, which has included fatalities and casualties.

Palestinians have also been assaulted — in the deadliest incident, a Palestinian toddler was killed in an arson attack on a home in the West Bank in July. His parents later died of their wounds suffered in that attack. That attack was widely condemned across Israel's political spectrum and the government vowed to crackdown on Israeli extremists.

Earlier Monday, police and Palestinian stone-throwers clashed for a second consecutive day at Jerusalem's most sensitive holy site. The compound is known to Jews as the Temple Mount, site of the two biblical Jewish temples. Muslims revere it as the Noble Sanctuary, where they believe the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven. The fate of the site is a core issue at the heart of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

Samri, the police spokeswoman, said protesters threw rocks at officers who entered the area to ensure security. She said several masked Palestinians suspected of stone throwing were arrested. Police also arrested protesters who attacked a Jewish man, she said.

The holy site is a frequent flashpoint. On Sunday, police clashed with Palestinians who barricaded themselves inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque and threw rocks and firecrackers. A Jewish man wearing a traditional prayer shawl was attacked as he passed through a nearby alleyway in the Old City.

AP