A marksman opened fire Friday night near a temple in east Jerusalem, killing at least seven people and wounding several before he was shot and killed, Israeli police and croakers said. The firing in the Jewish neighborhood of Neve Yaakov followed a deadly raid by the Israeli service Thursday in the enthralled West Bank that killed nine Palestinians, with a 10th killed latterly north of Jerusalem. After Friday’s firing, a spokesperson for the Magen David Adom exigency service said that in addition to those killed, three people had been taken to a sanitarium, including a 70- year-old in critical condition, a 20- year-old in serious condition, and a 14- year-old in moderate to serious condition.
Israel police said on Saturday that they had arrested 42 people in connection with the firing. Speaking at the scene of the attack, Israeli police manager Kobi Shabtai called it “one of the worst attacks we’ve encountered in recent times”. Israeli worshippers had gathered for prayers at the launch of the Jewish Sabbath in the Jewish settlement and were leaving when the marksman opened fire. Police say that officers also shot him dead. Forensic brigades are probing a white auto that appears to have been driven by the marksman. Palestinian militant groups praised the attack, but didn’t say one of their members was responsible. The attack was celebrated by Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip with rallies and the handing out of sweets. A prophet for the Israeli service said on Saturday that they were boosting their forces in the enthralled West Bank.
The violence is the first major test for the new government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Speaking from the scene of the firing on Friday, Netanyahu called on Israelis to avoid “taking the law into their own hands.. This is a time to act with determination but restraint,” he said. But hours before, his far-right public security minister, Itamar Ben- Gvir, who began his legal career defending Israeli settlers indicted of violence against Palestinians, delivered the contrary communication “Soon we will change the policy for mercenary gun possessors,” he pledged after meeting with victims ’ families at the temple. As he drove down, sympathizers chanted “death to terrorists” and “death to leftists”.
