Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon said on Sunday evening that Israel will continue to firmly fight terrorism, responding to a terrorist attack in the city earlier in the day.

“The fight against terrorism requires determination, strength and steadfastness in the face of attempts to attack us everywhere and force us to give up our assets,” he said.

Ya’alon added that attacks carried out by individuals who may not be connected to a specific terrorist group are “an additional Palestinian attempt to disrupt our lives, and we will fight them with an iron hand and calmly as we have done so far, not through concessions and shortcuts.”

“I wish a speedy recovery to the man who was wounded in the attack, Avraham Goldschmidt, and praise the rapid response of those present, including Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat,” concluded the Defense Minister.

Goldschmidt, a haredi Jewish man, was stabbed by an 18-year-old Arab terrorist at Jerusalem’s Tzahal Square, and his condition is moderate. He received treatment from an MDA team before he was evacuated to Shaarei Tzedek hospital, in full consciousness.

The stabber was caught by Barkat and his bodyguard. Security camera footage shows how Barkat and other members of his team tackled the terrorist, after the bodyguard pointed his gun at him.

Barkat then crossed the street and approached the wounded man, helping him to the sidewalk.

“I was driving with the car next to Tzahal Square when my team suddenly saw a terrorist with a knife right next to us,” Barkat said afterward. “I immediately jumped from the car, together with my bodyguard, he drew his weapon on him and we held on to the terrorist together until police arrived and immediately took care of the victim, who fortunately was lightly wounded.”

Goldschmidt, a father of four children, later told the media from his hospital bed that he was on his way back from a Torah lesson, when he was stabbed by the 18-year-old terrorist from Bir Zeit.

“Barkat and his personal guard were there, thank G-d, and here I give them thanks. They showed remarkable resourcefulness, seeing as the terrorist still held a knife in hand,” he added.

A terrorist stabbing attack took place a month ago on a bus in central Tel Aviv, on Begin Road, near Beit Maariv. The terrorist was an Arab man, reportedly from Samaria.

Twelve people were wounded in the stabbing, with 17 receiving treatment from Magen David Adom (MDA). Three were in serious condition, four in moderate condition and five who sustained light injuries. Another seven people were treated for shock.