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Israel looking into police shooting of Palestinian attacker Israel expels family of Palestinian attacker from Jerusalem
(about 1 hour later)
JERUSALEM — Israel said Thursday it is looking into the death of a Palestinian attacker shot dead by police after he killed an American student in a stabbing spree earlier this week. JERUSALEM — Israel denied Jerusalem residency Thursday to the relatives of a Palestinian man who shot at police officers in Jerusalem, wounding two before he was killed by security forces, police said.
Police spokeswoman Luba Samri said Fouad Abu Rajab’s father and siblings were living illegally in the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Issawiyeh while attempting to gain Jerusalem residency through the family reunification procedure. Abu Rajab’s mother, Amani, is a Jerusalem resident. Police deported the family to the West Bank, she said.
Palestinians claim east Jerusalem, captured by Israel in 1967, as their capital. Jerusalem’s Palestinians are not Israeli citizens, and instead hold residency status that can be revoked. Residency rights are coveted by Palestinians because they allow them to work and move freely inside Israel and gain access to Israeli health care and social services.
“Whoever is here against the law - will be expelled,” said Israel’s internal security minister, Gilad Erdan. “We will continue to battle terrorism with full force on all fronts and we will exact a high price for whoever supports, funds and assists terrorism.”
In the last two days, Israeli police arrested an additional 250 Palestinians who were in Israel illegally, Samri said. It is part of a crackdown aimed at reducing Palestinian stabbing, shooting and vehicular attacks that have claimed the lives of 28 Israelis and two Americans since mid-September. At least 179 Palestinians have died by Israeli fire in the same period, the majority of whom Israel says were assailants. The rest were killed in clashes with Israeli security forces.
Earlier Thursday, Israel said it was looking into the death of a Palestinian attacker shot dead by police after he killed an American student in a stabbing spree earlier this week.
In Tuesday’s attack, the Palestinian assailant ran through the ancient port city of Jaffa with a knife, stabbing several people along his way, until he was shot by a police officer.In Tuesday’s attack, the Palestinian assailant ran through the ancient port city of Jaffa with a knife, stabbing several people along his way, until he was shot by a police officer.
Israel’s Justice Ministry said the routine check is conducted after every shooting incident by police.Israel’s Justice Ministry said the routine check is conducted after every shooting incident by police.
It follows a video that emerged from the scene of the Jaffa stabbing, showing the attacker lying on the ground as an onlooker yells at the officer to shoot him “in the head.” A sound that seems to be gunfire is heard. Other voices then tell the officer to stop, saying the attacker “is lying down” and “don’t shoot him again.”It follows a video that emerged from the scene of the Jaffa stabbing, showing the attacker lying on the ground as an onlooker yells at the officer to shoot him “in the head.” A sound that seems to be gunfire is heard. Other voices then tell the officer to stop, saying the attacker “is lying down” and “don’t shoot him again.”
The Palestinians accuse Israel of using excessive force in trying to subdue more than five months of near-daily Palestinian attacks. The bloodshed — mainly stabbings but also shootings and car-ramming attacks — has killed 28 Israelis and two Americans. During the same time, at least 179 Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire, a majority of which are said by Israel to have been attackers. The rest were killed in clashes with security forces. The Palestinians accuse Israel of using excessive force in trying to subdue more than five months of near-daily Palestinian attacks.
Israeli police spokeswoman Luba Samri says police arrested about 250 Palestinians from the West Bank who were in Israel without valid permits, as part of a security crackdown since the Jaffa stabbing. Police also arrested 30 Israelis who employed or assisted the West Bank Palestinians.
The attack in Jaffa took place as Vice President Joe Biden, on a visit to Israel, was meeting former Israeli President Shimon Peres at the nearby Peres Center for Peace. The American victim, Taylor Force, was a 28-year-old MBA student at Vanderbilt University and a West Point graduate who had served tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.The attack in Jaffa took place as Vice President Joe Biden, on a visit to Israel, was meeting former Israeli President Shimon Peres at the nearby Peres Center for Peace. The American victim, Taylor Force, was a 28-year-old MBA student at Vanderbilt University and a West Point graduate who had served tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Biden criticized the Palestinians for failing to condemn the stabbing, after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ political party posted a statement online praising the stabber.Biden criticized the Palestinians for failing to condemn the stabbing, after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ political party posted a statement online praising the stabber.
A statement from Abbas’ office following his meeting with Biden on Wednesday night said Abbas offered his condolences for the American’s death, but stressed that Israel has killed nearly 200 Palestinians during the current round of violence.A statement from Abbas’ office following his meeting with Biden on Wednesday night said Abbas offered his condolences for the American’s death, but stressed that Israel has killed nearly 200 Palestinians during the current round of violence.
In a press conference with the visiting Romanian president Thursday, Abbas did not directly mention the Jaffa attack but said he opposes “violence, extremism and terrorism regardless of its source.”In a press conference with the visiting Romanian president Thursday, Abbas did not directly mention the Jaffa attack but said he opposes “violence, extremism and terrorism regardless of its source.”
Palestinians say the violence stems from frustration at nearly five decades of Israeli occupation. Israel says it is fueled by a campaign of Palestinian incitement compounded on social media sites that glorify and encourage attacks.Palestinians say the violence stems from frustration at nearly five decades of Israeli occupation. Israel says it is fueled by a campaign of Palestinian incitement compounded on social media sites that glorify and encourage attacks.
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Associated Press writer Mohammed Daraghmeh contributed to this report from Ramallah, West Bank.Associated Press writer Mohammed Daraghmeh contributed to this report from Ramallah, West Bank.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.