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Several Palestinian neighborhoods in east Jerusalem were blocked by concrete barriers and checkpoints were set up at the entrances as Israel launched tightened security measures in an effort to quell the ongoing wave of attacks.

The measures approved by Israel's security cabinet also included the revocation of permanent resident status of east Jerusalem Palestinians involved in attacks.

Meanwhile, soldiers have been sent to city centers and highways throughout the country to aid police forces.

Security cabinet member Yuval Steinitz says drastic measures are needed in drastic times.

"It's our right and duty to defend our citizens, and we have to take any necessary measures, any preventing measures to reduce terrorism and violence, and to detail the terrorists and their surroundings. I'm confident that we will be able to defeat terrorism, to reduce violence, and to bring back calm and security to the streets of Jerusalem and to all our citizens."

However, later in the day, two attacks were reported in Jerusalem, with an Israeli woman injured and two Palestinians shot dead by Israeli security forces.

Mustafa Barghouti, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization Central Council, opposes Israel's policy, saying the increasing oppression will only increase resistance.

"These measures will not change anything. In reality, Mr. Netanyahu, by doing so, he is proving again that east Jerusalem is part of the occupied territories, and not part of Israel. Now he is creating checkpoints inside every Palestinian neighborhood in east Jerusalem, this is another proof of the failure of Israeli policy."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday also accused Israel of stepping up its "aggressive offensive" on Palestinians and their holy sites, saying the Palestinians would bring the case before the International Criminal Court.

Abbas warned that Israel's actions threatened peace and stability and could ignite a "religious conflict" between Israelis and Palestinians.

Tensions have been mounting for weeks in Israel and Palestine. Since the beginning of the month, fierce clashes have brought the Israeli death toll to seven, while Israeli forces have shot dead some 32 Palestinians.
Refuting Israel's blame that Palestinian incitement is the main reason for the attacks, Mustafa Barghouti says the current problem is the Israeli occupation.

"Israelis know very well that if they want peace, they can have it if they stop and end occupation. They know that peace and security can only be achieved by stopping the system of racial discrimination against Palestinian people. The cause is occupation. The people don't need to be incited, because the occupation itself is an incitement, and oppression of people is an incitement."

For CRI, I'm Victor Ning.