Palestinians wielding knives continued their assaults and attacks on Jews in both Jerusalem and on the West Bank. Reports are that two Israeli police officers shot and killed two of the Palestinian attackers. Tensions continued to rise and attacks have escalated between Israeli’s and Palestinians in both the West Bank and in Jerusalem.

The attacks occurred in East Jerusalem and in the West Bank town of Nablus, according to Reuters. The attack that ended up with two Palestinians dead in East Jerusalem happened at a bus station. In Nablus, an attack left four people seriously wounded at an Israeli police checkpoint.

There were also violent attacks out on the Gaza Strip and in the city of Ramallah on the West Bank. In the Gaza Strip incident, Palestinians turned out in force and began hurling rocks at Israeli soldiers were gathered at the other side of the Gaza Strip border. The Israeli soldiers began firing at the Palestinians and the exchange between them left at least forty Palestinians wounded.

The violence between the two warring factions started earlier in the month at a mosque in Old City in Jerusalem. The area is a sacred place for both Judaism and for Islam. Jews had begun to congregate and pray at the al-Aqsa plaza holy site which is considered the most sacred Islamic site outside of Mecca and non- Muslim praying has always been strictly forbidden there. For the Jews, the plaza is where two legendary Jewish biblical temples were destroyed.

Israel says that the Muslim allegations are not true and that they are being presented as the truth just to foment violence and discord between the two religions. Since the renewed violence began at the beginning of October, Eleven Israeli’s and 64 Palestinians have been killed. Because guns are extremely difficult to come by, Palestinians have turned to the edged weapons such as knives to wield their revenge.