JERUSALEM, Oct 10 : Violence between Israelis and Palestinians threatened to spiral out of control on Saturday after unrest spread to Gaza, the Palestinian death toll rose and a new stabbing by a 16-year-old in Jerusalem.
While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas have sought to avoid an escalation, frustrated Palestinian youths have defied efforts to restore calm and a wave of stabbings have spread fear in Israel.
A rocket fired by Gaza militants hit southern Israel on Saturday hours after clashes along the border saw Israeli forces open fire and kill seven Palestinians.
The rocket caused no damage and there was no immediate claim of responsibility. Israel regularly responds to such rocket fire with air strikes, but had not done so by Saturday morning.
Rioting has shaken annexed east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank, with Palestinians throwing stones and firebombs at Israeli security forces, who have responded with live fire, rubber bullets, tear gas and stun grenades.
A 22-year-old Palestinian shot by Israeli police during clashes in east Jerusalem late Friday died of his wounds Saturday. According to police, he had opened fire at security forces at the Shuafat refugee camp.      ?AFP