Old City in Jerusalem
Old City in JerusalemIsrael news photo: Flash 90

Police foiled a potentially gruesome terrorist attack in the heart of Jerusalem’s Old City Monday night when they arrested three Hevron Arabs with knives that were to be used to stab to death an Israeli policeman or soldier.

They were caught near Jaffa Gate, the most popular and crowded thoroughfare for tourists and visitors to the Old City. Police were suspicious of their vehicle and discovered their plans while questioning the terrorists.

The foiled stabbing is one of an increasing number of attacks and planned attacks by Palestinian Authority Arabs on Jews. A large number of the incidents involve individuals acting independently of large terrorist organizations, indicating a different wave of violence that has been dubbed a “quiet” Intifada.

Security officers Tuesday morning arrested a young PA terrorist armed with a 12-inch knife and a firebomb at the Kalandia checkpoint on the northern edge of Jerusalem. On Monday, police at the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hevron arrested two Arabs with knives in what has become a weekly event. Many previous arrests of would-be terrorists have involved young women.

Another sign of escalating violence by Arabs against Jews is the sharp increase in firebombings (using "Molotov cocktails") and rock throwing attacks. A PA Arab wounded a 19-year-old girl southwest of Hevron two weeks ago when he attacked an Egged bus with one such firebomb.

Rock throwing attacks have been reported daily in the past several weeks, primarily on Highway 60 between Jerusalem and the suburbs of Be’er Sheva, and on the road between Kfar Saba and Jewish communities in central Samaria. Regional council leaders have complained that the removal of checkpoints on the highways has encouraged the escalation in attacks. A public bus and at least one car sustained damage late Tuesday morning on Highway 60 in a rock attack north of Hevron. A simialr attack occurred on the same road Monday afternoon.

The murder of a rabbi and educator in Samaria last month was carried out several days after residents warned that the removal of a checkpoint would be followed by an attack. The IDF denied any connection between the removal of soldiers and the murder.