Two Killed and 11 Injured in Southern Israel Clashes

Escalating tensions between Israel and Palestinians have spread to southern regions, where an attack by a Palestinian resulted in the death of an Israeli soldier and the attacker, with at least 11 others injured. This attack occurred at the central bus terminal in the city of Be'er Sheva. Reuters reports that this incident is one of the 'most serious' attacks by Palestinians on Israelis this month, marking a new wave of violence. Police state that the assailant was shot dead. Palestinian media have reported that the attacker was from Jerusalem. Among the injured are police officers who have been transferred to the hospital. According to Israeli police, the assailant, armed with a handgun, entered the terminal; despite the area being under police surveillance, he killed a soldier, seized his weapon, and then opened fire on others. Consequently, the number of Israeli citizens killed in recent clashes has reached eight, while 42 Palestinians have also died in the recent tensions. Some of the Palestinians killed were attackers who targeted Israelis with knives or cold weapons and were mostly shot dead. The Israelis killed were victims of sudden attacks in streets, buses, or, in this latest case, at a bus terminal. The latest round of violence began after Palestinians protested changes in the management of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the increased entry of Jews into it. Al-Aqsa Mosque, considered one of the holiest sites for Muslims, is believed by devout Jews to be the location of the destroyed Temple of Solomon and the site of their sacred worship. The Israeli police have begun constructing a new wall in East Jerusalem to protect Jewish neighborhoods that have recently been targeted with stones and incendiary materials. According to AFP, this wall separates the Palestinian neighborhood of Jabal Mukaber from Armon Hanatziv, raising concerns among critics of the Israeli government that it could lead to the complete division of Jerusalem. The installed structures in this area are up to 2.5 meters tall as of Sunday. The city municipality has stated that this wall will be 300 meters long and will be placed in areas that have been targeted with stone-throwing and incendiary materials. The Jabal Mukaber area has become one of the main centers of tensions in recent weeks. Three residents of this area have killed three Israelis in two separate attacks in recent days, only to be shot and killed themselves.