Jerusalem was a city of tension today, where even innocent loud noises drew screeching police cars and emergency ambulances. But the three harmless explosions, including two tire blowouts and one spray-can blast, were interspersed with some genuine alarms. A Jewish man was stabbed near Damascus Gate in Jerusalem this afternoon; he was treated on the site, and then taken in very serious condition to Hadassah Hospital for emergency surgery. In addition, a small charge placed inside a beer can exploded around mid-day in a downtown supermarket; no one was hurt, but damage was caused. A carbomb exploded in the underground parking lot of a seven-story building in north Pisgat Ze\'ev yesterday, near N\'vei Yaakov. Two people were injured - one from smoke inhalation, and one from shock. Police presence is heavy in the capital, in light of intelligence warnings of additional terrorism.
Gaza has been the scene of heavy violence the past two days, culminating this afternoon with the Israeli bombing of a PA para-military police post. This morning\'s violence began when Arabs fired a mortar shell at Kfar Darom; it exploded between two homes, with fragments damaging both homes and lightly wounding a 7-yr.-old girl. Later, four mortar shells landed in Netzer Hazani in Gush Katif, Gaza, causing no injuries, and Palestinians fired at an IDF outpost on the Israeli-Egyptian border. Netzarim residents blocked the Karni Checkpoint in northern Gaza to protest the increased local violence, but the army\'s action was somewhat more formidable: Combat helicopters dropped four missiles on the Gaza military police station and neighboring PA buildings, wounding several Arabs.
Three Border Guard Policemen were wounded late this afternoon in a drive-by shooting attack near PLO-controlled Tul Karem, east of Netanya. A large police force is involved in a manhunt for the terrorists. Two of the victims were seriously wounded, and were taken to Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikvah. A third officer, in light condition, was transported to Hillel Yafeh Hospital in Hadera.
The IDF continues to tighten its encirclement around Shechem. Blockades were placed around the city on Shabbat, and today two more Arab villages were placed under closure. The measures are being taken following the increase in shooting incidents from these areas. A bomb exploded this morning near a busload of soldiers on the way to Mt. Baal Hatzor, east of Ofrah; no one was hurt. Last night, an Israeli bus driver was lightly wounded when Arabs tried to kill him with gunfire east of Tapuach (west of the Jordan Valley). Palestinians also shot at the Jewish homes in Hevron and Psagot, as well as at an army vehicle in the western Shomron.
Gaza has been the scene of heavy violence the past two days, culminating this afternoon with the Israeli bombing of a PA para-military police post. This morning\'s violence began when Arabs fired a mortar shell at Kfar Darom; it exploded between two homes, with fragments damaging both homes and lightly wounding a 7-yr.-old girl. Later, four mortar shells landed in Netzer Hazani in Gush Katif, Gaza, causing no injuries, and Palestinians fired at an IDF outpost on the Israeli-Egyptian border. Netzarim residents blocked the Karni Checkpoint in northern Gaza to protest the increased local violence, but the army\'s action was somewhat more formidable: Combat helicopters dropped four missiles on the Gaza military police station and neighboring PA buildings, wounding several Arabs.
Three Border Guard Policemen were wounded late this afternoon in a drive-by shooting attack near PLO-controlled Tul Karem, east of Netanya. A large police force is involved in a manhunt for the terrorists. Two of the victims were seriously wounded, and were taken to Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikvah. A third officer, in light condition, was transported to Hillel Yafeh Hospital in Hadera.
The IDF continues to tighten its encirclement around Shechem. Blockades were placed around the city on Shabbat, and today two more Arab villages were placed under closure. The measures are being taken following the increase in shooting incidents from these areas. A bomb exploded this morning near a busload of soldiers on the way to Mt. Baal Hatzor, east of Ofrah; no one was hurt. Last night, an Israeli bus driver was lightly wounded when Arabs tried to kill him with gunfire east of Tapuach (west of the Jordan Valley). Palestinians also shot at the Jewish homes in Hevron and Psagot, as well as at an army vehicle in the western Shomron.