Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat issued an appeal to citizens of his city who have permits to carry firearms to begin doing so amidst an upsurge in terrorist attacks in the capital and elsewhere in Israel. The attacks, most often carried out with knives and other crude weapons, have been thwarted on several occasions by armed citizens. “We’ve been in tougher situations in the past,” Barkat told the Jerusalem Post. “There is a new pattern though – a pattern of people independently using knives and other means to kill innocent people. That means that you have to be very alert. People should turn the fear that they have into a positive by protecting themselves and going on with their normal lives, but keeping their eyes open. If you see anything suspicious, call the security forces. They won’t take anything lightly.”
“Unlike in the US and Europe, where you don’t actually know the quality of the people carrying guns, Israel is exactly the opposite,” he added. “Here the people with licenses are trained professional military people in the reserves; officers who have fought in combat units. In Israel we have a huge amount of reservists that go to war, and are as trained, if not better, in combat. In a situation with terrorist attacks with knives, you fight.”
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Security forces throughout Israel were on high alert Friday morning following four stabbing attacks the day before in Tel Aviv, Afula, Kiryat Arba and Jerusalem. Of the four attackers, one was shot dead at the scene while two others were arrested with the assistance of nearby citizens and the remaining assailant remained at large. “We’re seeing incidents across Israel that are being stopped by police, military personnel and also armed civilians, who are able to stop attacks and prevent further harm,” said a police officials. “We are of course deploying in higher numbers than usual, but the alertness that civilians show is of great importance.” Meanwhile, access to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem’s Old City remained heavily restricted and violent demonstrations were reported between Palestinians and Israeli security forces and IDF units in several West Bank locations. Read More
