Israel rejects observer plan after more stabbing attacks

Israel today rejected a proposal to send international observers to a flashpoint holy site in a bid to calm unrest after five more stabbing incidents defied a security crackdown.
Diplomatic moves to halt the more than two weeks of unrelenting violence gained steam meanwhile, with US Secretary of State John Kerry saying he planned to meet both the Israeli and Palestinian leaders in the coming days.
In yet another sign of tensions, ultra-Orthodox Jews illegally visiting a West Bank holy site set ablaze last week were assaulted by Palestinians, while some were also arrested.
Clashes also broke out in the West Bank city of Hebron, where three attacks occurred yesterday.

The unrest and stabbing attacks or attempts yesterday came as the violence raised fears of a full-scale Palestinian uprising.
At the start of a cabinet meeting Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected an idea from France that would see international observers sent to Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque compound.

Clashes at the compound between Israeli police and Palestinian protesters in September preceded the current wave of violence.
Muslims fear Israel will seek to change rules governing the site, located in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem.
The site is sacred to Muslims and Jews, who refer to it as the Temple Mount. Jews are allowed to visit but not pray there to avoid provoking tensions, and Netanyahu has said repeatedly he has no intention of changing the rules.

"Israel cannot accept the French draft resolution at the United Nations Security Council," Netanyahu said.
"It doesn't mention Palestinian incitement; it doesn't mention Palestinian terrorism; and it calls for the internationalisation of the Temple Mount."
With international concern mounting, Kerry said he would meet both Netanyahu and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas later this week.
Kerry said he would meet Netanyahu in Germany, where the Israeli leader is scheduled to travel on Wednesday, before talks with Abbas and Jordan's King Abdullah at an unspecified location in the Middle East.
Checkpoints have been set up in Palestinian areas of east Jerusalem, where many of the attackers have come from, and some 300 soldiers today began reinforcing police.

Israel also today implemented a previously approved measure allowing security forces to search people whenever they feel necessary.