Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovich said Thursday that he believes the current wave of violent terror attacks will continue.

“I assume there will be more attacks and incidents in the near future,” Aharonovich told the crowd at the inauguration ceremony of the new Jerusalem District Commander.  
 
“I have noticed though a decrease in the number of incidents. The Temple Mount is the key source of the tension and on the Temple Mount there will be no compromises,” the minister stressed.

“We will maintain the status quo – everyone will pay, Jews and Muslims. Muslims on the Temple Mount, Jews at the Western Wall,” he concluded.

Outgoing District Commander Major General Yossi Pariente – who is being replaced by Major General Moshe Edri – also addressed the crowd about the tense atmosphere in the capital city. 

“If the events surrounding the Temple Mount calm down, and extremists on both sides are handled, quiet will return.”

Despite their attempts at assuaging, tensions continued Thursday. In the morning Arab rioters clashed with security forces in Issawiyya in eastern Jerusalem. Several dozen masked men threw stones at police and Border Patrol Forces in the eastern part of the neighborhood. 

Police also announced Thursday morning a thwarted stabbing attack – a 17-year-old Palestinian was arrested near Dolev on his way to Jerusalem, with a knife and screwdriver in his bag, and the intention to stab a bus driver. 

Earlier, in the day, IDF’s Central Command, Gen. Nitzan Alon, held a meeting with Jewish community leaders in Judea and Samaria, as well as the heads of the Yesha Council, in light of recent deadly attacks in the region. 

General Alon provided an update on how the IDF and security forces have expanded their operations to counter the unrest, including an increased presence on the roads and at public transportation stops. 

However, he cautioned community leaders that the current escalation would get worse before it got better.