Israel indicts Palestinian for deadly "terror" attack in Tel Aviv

Israel charged Sunday a Palestinian resident of the West Bank for murdering two Israelis in a stabbing attack in Tel Aviv in November, amidst a spate of deadly Israeli-Palestinian violence.

Raed Khalil, a 36-year-old resident of the Dura village, south of Hebron, is also charged with three attempting murders.

According to the inducement, filed with the Tel Aviv District Court, Khalil entered Israel on Nov. 15 with a 24-hour permit intended for "personal needs" and stayed Tel Aviv after his permit expired.

On Nov. 19, he grabbed a nine-inch knife from a grill restaurant located in the Panorama Building in southern Tel Aviv, where he was staying, and fatally stabbed Reuven Aviram, 51, and Aharon Yesayev, 32.

The Times of Israel reported that Kahlil expressed regret for his actions and shed a tear while reenacting the attack during his investigation earlier this month.

He said he was driven by the pain he felt for the situation of the Palestinians, which have been living under Israeli occupation since 1967, the report said.

The attack came amidst a wave of violence, which claimed the lives of more than 120 Palestinians and 19 Israelis, according to official figures.

It was triggered by increased visits of far-right Israelis to the al-Aqsa mosque compound, a site in East Jerusalem holy to both Muslims and Jews. The unrest then quickly spread throughout the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and Israel.

The violence continued on Sunday afternoon, as Israeli forces shot a Palestinian female suspect, after she allegedly tried to stab Israelis in the Jewish settlement of Kiryat Arba.

A spokesperson for the Israeli emergency service said she sustained moderate wounds and was taken to the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. Endit