Police officer stands guard near Temple Mount (file)
Police officer stands guard near Temple Mount (file)Yonatan Sindel/Flash 90

Police have raised the level of precaution throughout the country in the wake of the terror attack in Tel Aviv Wednesday, with officers to be deployed in large numbers at sites throughout the country where large numbers of people pass through or gather, as well as at other sensitive sites.

The increased precautions may include police setting up roadblocks at the entrances to cities, increased requests to search vehicles, and larger numbers of street patrols in city centers, malls, and train stations. The decision to raise the precaution level was taken by Police Chief Yohanan Danino, after meeting with top officials.

Danino praised the behavior of police in the wake of the attack, saying "Israel police will continue to ensure the safety of Israelis throughout the country."

A team from the Israel Prisons Service's elite Nachshon unit happened to be driving behind the bus when the attack took place on Hamasger Street in central Tel Aviv. The officers got out of the car and gave chase to the terrorist, shot him in the leg and arrested him.

Tel Aviv wasn't the only tension spot in Israel on Wednesday.

Rioting is expected for a third night in Rahat and other Negev Bedouin towns, as residents continue to blame police for the death of Sami al-Jaar, a Rahat resident who was shot and killed during a drug raid. Bedouin Arabs threw rocks, bricks and explosives at police, claiming that police were “inciting” riots by their presence.

Police released footage Tuesday showing mobs of Arabs attempting to break the windows of a police car on Sunday after al-Jaar's funeral, with the five officers inside in danger of being lynched, a police spokesperson said.

Rioters on Tuesday launched a fusillade of rocks and Molotov cocktails targeting the officers in addition to an explosive that was lobbed. Four minors were arrested on suspicion of throwing rocks; one of them was wounded by the rocks they were throwing and required medical aid, after which he was brought in for investigation as well.

Danino had arrived at the station in Rahat earlier Tuesday where he was given a tour by the regional chief Yoram Halevi of the preparations by police forces in the unstable region. He called on Bedouin leaders to urge their communities to show restraint.

Yet another tense spot in Israel Wednesday was in the north of the country, which is on edge in anticipation of a possible – or even likely - terror attack by Hezbollah, after IDF forces eliminated a terror squad on the Golan Heights Monday.

Roads in the area of the Israel-Lebanon border have been closed, and on Tuesday tanks and armored personnel carriers were deployed along the northern border. Lebanese media outlets are reporting Israeli jets and helicopters over the Har Dov area along the Lebanese border.