Israel Launches Security Crackdown After Terror Spike

JERUSALEM, Israel -- Israel has taken the unprecedented step of preventing Palestinians from entering east Jerusalem's "Old City" where the Al Aqsa Mosque is located, after another deadly terrorist attack this weekend.

A Palestinian terrorist stabbed and murdered a rabbi and an off-duty soldier, and wounded a woman and her toddler son near the Lion's Gate in Jerusalem on Saturday evening. The terrorist was shot and killed.

Israeli police have stepped up security measures in the area.

"The Old City is only open to residents of the Old City and this is a drastic measure that's being taken in order to make sure there are no further attacks during the Jewish festival (Sukkot) where you can see thousands of people are visiting the Old City," Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.

Over the weekend, the Israel Defense Force arrested suspects inthe drive-by shooting murder of an Israeli man and his wife on Thursday.

Their four children, aged 4 months to 9 years, were in the backseat of the car during that shooting.

The separate attacks are the latest in an escalation of Palestinian terrorist violence against Israelis, including rock throwing, stabbings and shootings.

And the Islamic Jihad has released a video threatening to resume suicide bombing attacks.

Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered to resume peace talks with the Palestinians without preconditions. Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas threatened to stop abiding by any previous agreements with Israel.