Stabbings at West Bank settlement leave 3 dead, 1 injured: report

A Palestinian stabbed four Israeli citizens in a West Bank settlement on Friday, killing three and leaving one wounded, The Associated Press reported. 

The AP, citing Israeli media, reported that the attacker was shot and wounded.

The stabbing comes as tensions surrounding a shrine — known as the Temple Mount to Jews and the Noble Sanctuary to Muslims — in Jerusalem reach a boiling point.

{mosads}Violent clashes erupted in Jerusalem on Friday, as Palestinian protesters opposed to Israel’s decision to install metal detectors at the holy site took to the streets. 

Three Palestinians were killed in those clashes and dozens more have been hospitalized, according to the AP.

Palestinians have grown furious with Israel’s decision to install metal detectors at the shrine, which they see as an intrusion on their religious rights. 

Israel’s government, on the other hand, has said the installation of the metal detectors was a necessary security measure after two police officers were killed at the shrine last week in an attack by three Arab Israeli citizens. 

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced on Friday that Palestinian leadership would halt contacts with Israel in response to the dispute over the shrine, the AP reported. 

It was not immediately clear if that means the two sides will halt their security cooperation.