Palestinian youths stab Israeli boy of 13 as violence rages on

Jerusalem: Two Palestinian youths of 13 and 15 stabbed and critically injured a 13-year-old Israeli boy riding his bike in northern Jerusalem on Monday, police said, continuing a wave of attacks in the city in which three alleged Palestinian assailants were shot dead.

Four Israelis and 26 Palestinians, including eight alleged attackers and eight children, have died in 12 days of bloodshed, the worst spell of street violence for years, stirred in part by Muslim anger over increasing Jewish visits to the al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem.

Palestinian groups have called for a "Day of Rage" across the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem on Tuesday and the leaders of Israel's Arab community have called for a commercial strike in their towns and villages.

Some of Israel's Jewish residents have also taken to the streets, to protest against the attacks, and have demanded the government do more to restore security.

Two Palestinian youths aged 13 and 15 stabbed two Israelis on the northern edge of Jerusalem, critically injuring one of them, the 13-year-old boy, police and hospital sources said.