2 More Jews Stabbed by Arabs, As Wave of Attacks Continues

A wave of Palestinian attacks on Israeli civilians continued into Thursday, when Palestinian workers from the Gaza Strip stabbed and wounded two Israelis in separate incidents.

The attacks were only the latest in a series of incidents over the past two weeks that have left four Israelis dead.

On Thursday morning, Moshe Sagi, 49, was attacked by a 19-year-old Palestinian who reportedly worked on Sagi’s farm in Rehovot for three years.

Near one of Sagi’s hothouses, the assailant apparently pulled out a knife and stabbed Sagi twice from behind.

The attacker fled, and Sagi was able to drive himself to get help. He was reported Thursday night to be hospitalized in moderate condition.

Also Thursday, Assaf Dayan, 15, of Ashkelon was stabbed by a 17-year-old Palestinian at a factory belonging to Dayan’s family. The attack took place near the Erez checkpoint, at the northern entrance to the Gaza Strip.

Dayan sustained moderate injuries to the back of the neck.

It was also reported that David Liebskind, a reserve soldier who had been stabbed by Palestinians on Wednesday night, remained in critical condition at Rambam Hospital in Haifa.

The attack against Liebskind took place in the city of Nazareth. Residents there expressed hope that the attack would not damage relations between Israeli Arabs and Jews living there.

Police have detained 28 suspects, including at least four Israeli Arabs, for questioning in the search for Liebskind’s attacker.

With attacks apparently escalating, Police Minister Moshe Shahal convened a meeting of top police officers to discuss necessary security measures.

The Knesset was scheduled to consider legislation that would institute the death penalty for terrorist murderers, but debate on the proposal was postponed until next week.