Security forces have foiled more than 15 "significant" terrorist attacks over the past two weeks, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said on Tuesday during a visit to the IDF's Judea and Samaria Division. He was joined by Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, GOC Central Command Maj. Gen. Yehuda Fuchs, the IDF's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Maj. Gen. Ghassan Alian, and other senior officials.
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Meanwhile, as Arabs clashed with Jews and hurled stones at police officers at Damascus Gate in Jerusalem, Defense Minister Benny Gantz spoke on the phone with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, wishing the Palestinian people a blessed Muslim holy month of Ramadan, while emphasizing during the call that it "must be a month of peace and quiet and not a period marked by terror."
Dozens of rioters confronted police officers who were working to maintain order and permit Arabs to reach the Temple Mount. Rioters shot fireworks and threw bottles and rocks at the police, who responded with riot dispersal means.
Video: Israel Police
Earlier, a mass brawl broke out near the Damascus Gate among the many dozens of people who were in the area. The brawl was dispersed after police intervention. Eight suspects were arrested for disturbing the public order and throwing objects at police officers.
"We will not allow those violent inciters to disturb the order. We call on the public to mark the month of Ramadan legally, obey the instructions of the police and avoid violence and disturbances of any kind," police said.
Three terrorist attacks over the past two weeks have claimed the lives of 11 Israeli citizens.
Gantz addressed the recent attacks in his conversation with Abbas, declaring that Israel "will continue to take the measures necessary to prevent attacks and defend its citizens."
Abbas had condemned last week's shooting in the central Israeli city of Bnei Brak that killed five people, and on the call, Gantz thanked him for the gesture.
According to a Defense Ministry statement, Gantz noted that Israel is prepared to expand civilian measures during and after Ramadan, in accordance with the security situation.
In an apparent bid to help calm tensions, the government said in a statement that it will allow women, children and men over 40 from Judea and Samaria to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday.
Gantz said he would consider further easing restrictions next week if things remain calm.
"Along with the civilian steps we are taking starting this week toward Ramadan, which we will expand if there is security stability, we will continue to do whatever it takes to give people a normal life and to protect Israeli citizens from terrorism," said Gantz.
Palestinian men over age 50 and under age 12 will be allowed to enter for prayers. Men between the ages of 40 and 49 with a permit also will be allowed in. Thousands of Palestinians with close relatives in Israel will also be given permits to visit them between Sunday and Thursday, according to the liaison.
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The rules will apply for the next week and security officials will meet again to consider expanding them further.
In Judea and Samaria, Bennett said, "The connection between resourcefulness, intelligence, and our fighters in the IDF, Border Police, and Israel Police, is excellent – I have no doubt we'll win. The determination of our fighters in the field affords our citizens in our streets a sense of calm."
Discussing the country's response to the ongoing terror wave, he added: "The last two weeks were difficult, but we will do everything possible to fix everything that needs fixing. We are acting aggressively, and the security forces have foiled more than 15 terrorist significant attacks, have arrested more than [terror] 200 suspects, and have raided dozens of homes. We have put our hands on some 400 suspects and many others who had or still have ties to the Islamic State group in any form."
The prime minister called on civilians to "live life normally, go to work and school. The terrorist organizations are trying to disrupt our daily lives, and we won't give them this prize."
