Israeli crackdown after surge in Palestinian violence

Israel has set up roadblocks in Palestinian neighbourhoods in East Jerusalem, and deployed soldiers in cities across the country, to combat the worst surge of violence in months.

Palestinian officials condemned the security measures, the most serious clampdown in the Jerusalem area since a Palestinian uprising a decade ago, as collective punishment.

Israel’s security cabinet had authorised the crackdown hours earlier, in an overnight session, after Palestinians armed with knives and a gun killed three Israelis and wounded several others on Tuesday.