Two Jewish men stabbed in Jerusalem’s Old City
Yeshiva students in moderate, light condition; police arrest three as they search for group of Arab youths after apparent fight
Lazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Two yeshiva students were stabbed Monday night in Jerusalem’s Old City.
According to reports, the stabbings occurred during a fight between the students and local Arab youths.
A 45-year-old man was stabbed in his abdomen, and was evacuated to Shaare Zedek Hospital in moderate condition.
The other victim, 32 years of age, suffered from a shallow knife wound in the neck and had his arm broken. He was also in Shaare Zedek, where doctors said he was lightly injured.
The students, from the Shuvu Banim yeshiva, claimed they were set upon by a group of Arab youths as they left their study hall.
They reached the Kishle police station in the Armenian Quarter, and were taken to the hospital from there.
Police have made three arrests.
Security forces were searching the area.
Tensions in Jerusalem have been spiking in recent months, mostly over Palestinian claims that the Israeli government wants to change the status quo at the Temple Mount by allowing Jews to pray there.
Netanyahu has repeatedly denied the claims but some members of his right-wing coalition favor letting the prayers go forward.
In recent months, 11 people have been killed in attacks by Palestinian terrorists — mostly in Jerusalem.
Police on Monday were looking into reports of an attack by three young Israelis on a Palestinian youth in Jerusalem, and an assault by Arab youths on a Jewish Egged bus driver in Megiddo.
