Two Palestinian youths died Monday, bringing to six the number of Arab fatalities over the weekend in clashes with the Israel Defense Force.
At least 40 Arabs have been wounded in violent disturbances in the West Bank and Gaza Strip since Friday.
Violence spread to East Jerusalem, where a gasoline bomb set fire to an Egged bus Monday night.
Only the driver was injured. He was taken to Hadassah Hospital on Mount Scopus for treatment of slight burns. There were no passengers on the bus at the time of the attack. The vehicle was completely gutted.
The incident occurred at 6:30 p.m. local time in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. Several arrests were made. Police chief Yosef Yehudai said he suspected terrorist cells active in the area were responsible.
In the West Bank, Hebron became the focus of tension Monday. The flare-up of violence in the territories was attributed in part to the deaths of two young Palestinian girls wounded last week.
A general strike was in effect in the territories Sunday, as the Cabinet devoted much of its weekly session to a discussion of mounting casualties in the territories and how they can be reduced.
Apparently, the plastic bullets introduced last year are as lethal as live ammunition.
About 26 Palestinian youths were killed in the territories last month and 492 were wounded, a record number since the uprising began more than 13 months ago.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
