Visiting Jordanian killed after stabbing cop in J’lem’s Old City
Amman blames Israel for ‘despicable crime’ against citizen
A Jordanian citizen stabbed and wounded an Israeli police officer who then shot him dead in Jerusalem’s Old City on Saturday.
Police spokeswoman Luba Simri said the officer was walking down a street when he was attacked.
“The terrorist rushed toward him, whipped out a knife that he had in his possession, stormed him and began stabbing him. The police officer responded with determination and in a professional manner, and managed to activate his weapon and neutralized him,” Simri said.
The attacker, she said, was a 57-year-old Jordanian who had arrived in Israel for a visit a few days ago.
Magen David Adom said the police officer was not severely wounded.
Israel and the Palestinian territories have seen a sporadic series of Arab attacks since October 2015, although they have not often involved Jordanians.
In response to the incident, the Jordanian government issued a statement condemning Israel.
“The Israeli government, which is the responsible occupying power there, bears the responsibility for the death of a Jordanian citizen in east Jerusalem,” said the statement. “We harshly condemn this despicable crime that was carried against the Jordanian citizen, and demand that Israel will provide all of the details concerning it.”
At least 244 Palestinians have been killed since the violence began. At least 164 of them were carrying out stabbings, shootings or car-ramming attacks. Others died during riots and protests.
Thirty-seven Israelis, two American tourists and a British student have been killed
in Palestinian street attacks, which have slowed in recent months, though not stopped.
Israel says the Palestinian leadership is inciting the violence. The Palestinian Authority denies incitement and says that in many cases Israel has used excessive force in thwarting attackers armed with rudimentary weapons.
Israel and Jordan signed a peace accord in 1994.
In another incident, a 20-year-old Palestinian woman was detained next to the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron. According to a police statement, the woman seemed suspicious to the Border Police officers at the adjacent checkpoint, and after searching her a knife was found. According to an initial investigation, it was determined that she was planning to carry out a stabbing attack.