Policeman Stabbed in Northern Israel; Suspect in Custody

A 37-year-old Border Police officer sustained light to moderate wounds in a stabbing in the northern Israeli city of Nahariya.

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Police said they have arrested a suspect in the stabbing. A preliminary investigation determined that the suspect and the victim were arguing before the attack took place. The suspect was said to be a 16-year old teen from one of the villages in the Western Galilee.

Police said that the circumstances surrounding the incident were still being investigated, but noted, contrary to its initial statement, that it doesn’t seem to be politically motivated.The policeman, a Christian resident of Fassuta, an Arab town in northern Israel, serves in Jerusalem and was on his way home when he was stabbed. According to medical officials, he suffered knife wounds to his upper body.

Earlier Friday, seven Israeli soldiers were wounded in two seperate car-ramming attacks in the West Bank.

Meanwhile on Friday afternoon, Palestinian protesters and Israeli security forces clashed across the West Bank and near the Gaza border.

Seven Palestinians who threw firebombs toward security forces were wounded by Israel Defense Forces gunfire near the Halhul-Hebron bridge on Route 35, the military said. Another Palestinian was hurt in a similar incident at Beit Fajjar.

In both incidents the rioters were shot by Ruger rifles, according to the IDF. The .22 inch caliber sniper rifles are generally non-lethal.

The Red Crescent, however, reported treating 454 wounded Palestinians in the West Bank, 14 of whom were hurt by live gunfire and 85 of whom were shot by rubber bullets. The rest suffered from gas inhalation.

In the Gaza clash, 25 people were wounded, according to both the Israeli military and Palestinian officials.