Israeli security forces across Israel were on the highest level of alert Friday, after Thursday night's shooting attack in Mercaz Harav Yeshiva in Jerusalem, which left eight people dead.
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni vowed in a statement that "Israel will never allow terrorism to achieve its goals."
Reevaluating situation
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Friday morning ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to impose a closure on the West Bank, the spokeswoman of IDF told Xinhua. The closure is set to continue until security forces re-evaluate the situation in several days, she added.
An organization calling itself "Galilee Freedom Battalions - the Martyrs of Imad Mughniyeh" claimed responsibility for the attack on Thursday evening, according to Hezbollah's Al-Manar television. The veracity of the claim was not clear.
According to local report, the attacker came from east Jerusalem. Israel Police refused to provide more details, but several residents of the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Jabel Mukaber gave the terrorist's name as Alaa Abu Dhein, 20, and said he had worked as a driver at the yeshiva.
Israel Police fear violence in Jerusalem's Old City, where both Jews and Muslims gather for prayer on Friday. Al-Aqsa mosque overlooks the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site.
Thousands of police officers were deported in Jerusalem and a limit was imposed Palestinian access to Friday prayers at the al-Aqsa mosque, Islam's third holiest site.
Only Muslim men over the age of 45 with a valid blue identity card will be allowed to enter the Temple Mount for prayers. Female worshippers will not be limited from entering, Army Radio said.
Jerusalem Police Chief Aharon Franco said the forces were working to prevent another tragedy from occurring in the city. "We've deployed force in every street in Jerusalem, with an emphasis on public places," he said.
Overnight Friday, IDF soldiers arrested eight wanted Palestinian terror suspects across the West Bank. The detainees were taken in for questioning by security forces.
Peace talks to continue
On Friday morning, thousands gathered outside the Mercaz Harav yeshiva in Jerusalem to hold funeral processions for eight students who were killed during the attack.
A spokesman of the Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency medical services told Xinhua on Thursday night that the shooting occurred at the Merkaz Harav yeshiva at nightfall was a "multiple casualty event."
The shooting attack happened one day after U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice wrapped up her visit to Israel and the West Bank by receiving promises to resume the fragile Israel-PNA peace negotiations suspended after IDF offensive in Gaza.
On the last day of her visit in the Middle east region, Rice said Wednesday that she had obtained assurances from both Israeli and Palestinian leaders to resume peace negotiations without any preconditions.
In the wake of the attack, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Arye Mekel said that "these terrorists are trying to destroy the chances of peace but we certainly will continue the peace talks."
Meanwhile, Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni fiercely condemned that "the murderous rampage against students marking a religious event exemplifies all too well the heinous extremism of the fundamentalist foundations Palestinian terrorism is built upon."
In Gaza, Hamas welcomed the terrorist attack at Thursday night and stated in a statement that "We bless the (Jerusalem) operation. It will not be the last."
In Gaza City, residents went out into the streets and fired in the air in celebration after hearing news of the attack on the yeshiva.
Since last weekend, Israeli troops had escalated military operations in Gaza against Palestinian gunmen, killing more than 120 people, including many civilians.
Israeli Security Cabinet decided Wednesday that Israel will continue to strike at Hamas regime in the Gaza Strip while advancing the negotiations process with the Palestinian National Authority.
It is reported on Friday by the website of local daily Ha'aretz that Israeli defense officials are pushing the idea of a multinational force in the Gaza Strip, but are undecided on whether they prefer such a unit to be deployed relatively soon or only after a major ground operation by the IDF.
A large Israeli offensive may be inevitable if the situation in the Gaza Strip continues to deteriorate, the report said.
Source:Xinhua
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