Orthodox Jewish man stabbed twice by Arab outside Damascus Gate

Police investigating incident as a terrorist attack; victim treated for non life-threatening wounds to his neck and shoulder.

By DANIEL K. EISENBUD
Damascus Gate 370 (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post)
Damascus Gate 370
(photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post)
A haredi man in his 20s was stabbed twice in the upper torso by an Arab assailant near the Damascus Gate in the capital Sunday evening, in what police are deeming a terrorist attack.
While details of the assault remain unclear, according to national police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld, the haredi man was stabbed at approximately 5:30 p.m. by the suspect, without provocation, before the assailant fled the scene.
A Shaare Zedek Medical Center official said the victim was taken to the Jerusalem hospital by Magen David Adom emergency responders, where he was treated for non life-threatening wounds to his neck and shoulder.
Hospital spokeswoman Shoham Ruvio said Sunday night that the man is expected to recover, although doctors are conducting extended tests.
“They’re trying to make sure there is nothing more wrong with him than the two stab wounds, which have been treated,” said Ruvio.
Calling the assault a terrorist attack, Rosenfeld said extra police units have been brought into the area to search for the assailant, and ensure no additional violence takes place.
“We have stepped up security in and around the Damascus Gate as we continue to search for the suspect,” he said.
Sunday’s attack is the second such terrorist stabbing of a Jew at Arab hands outside the Damascus Gate since the start of the year.
On January 11 a haredi man was stabbed in the back of his neck shortly before Shabbat concluded. The victim was taken to Shaare Zedek in moderate condition, where he underwent emergency surgery.
Police are asking that residents remain acutely aware of their surroundings following a pronounced increase in terrorist activity throughout the nation over the past two months.