Monday’s deadly stabbing attack in Tel Aviv – the first of two such attacks in a single day – in many ways marked an escalation in the recent campaign of Arab violence that has been simmering since the summer.

Though all previous such attacks in recent months had taken place either in Jerusalem or the Gush Etzion region south of the capital, where Monday’s second deadly attack occurred, this one saw a soldier stabbed to death outside Tel Aviv train station in the heart of central Israel.

In a show of solidarity, just hours after the attack a group of religious-Zionist activists from the Eretz Tzvi held a vigil at the site of the stabbing, which claimed the life of First Sergeant Almog Shiloni.

Founded one year ago in the rocket-embattled town of Sderot in southern Israel, the group organizes “flash demonstrations” to deliver “a rapid response to events of national importance.” The group has held demonstrations at the site of previous terrorist attacks, and held coordinated rallies at 50 major intersections to protest American pressure on Israel during one of US Secretary of State John Kerry’s visits earlier this year.

“The organization’s objective is to restore Zionism to the people,” said Avraham, an Eretz Tzvi activist, noting that apart from demonstrations his group encourages young Israelis to undertake voluntary work on kibbutzim and other agricultural communities throughout the country.

Activists sang religious and patriotic songs, recited psalms, and offered a lively show of support for a group of soldiers who happened to pass by.

Pictures courtesy of Eretz Tzvi:

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