Amid bloodshed in Jerusalem, Israel sends more troops to West Bank

JERUSALEM: Israel’s military sent more troops to the West Bank and placed forces on high alert on Saturday, a day after a Palestinian stabbed to death three Israelis and three Palestinians were killed in street clashes in Jerusalem, as tensions turned into violence over the Holy Land’s most contested shrine.

At issue in the current round of violence are metal detectors Israel installed at the Jerusalem shrine this week in response to an attack by Arab gunmen there.

The metal detectors are perceived by the Palestinians as an encroachment on Muslim rights and portrayed by Israel as a needed security measure.

On Friday, thousands of Palestinians clashed with Israeli troops, burning tires or throwing stones and firecrackers. Troops fired live rounds, rubber bullets and tear gas. Three Palestinians were killed and several dozen hospitalized with live or rubber bullet injuries.

Later, a Palestinian sneaked into a home in the Israeli settlement of Halamish in the West Bank and stabbed to death three Israelis, the military said.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, meanwhile, announced that he is freezing ties with Israel, dealing a blow to US efforts to try to renew long-dormant peace talks.

Abbas said contacts with Israel would be suspended on “all levels.” It was not immediately clear if this means long-standing security coordination between Israeli troops and Abbas’ forces will be halted.