JERUSALEM: Israel on Tuesday demolished the homes of two Palestinians behind attacks last year after Prime Minister Benj­amin Netanyahu pledged an iron fist against mounting unrest.

The demolitions came with Netanyahu under increasing pressure from right-wing mem­bers of his coalition, which holds only a one-seat majority, as clashes have spread in recent days following the murder of four Israelis. The spike in violence has brought international calls for calm, with concerns the unrest could spin out of control and memories of previous Palestinian uprisings still fresh.

The houses destroyed were the former homes of Ghassan Abu Jamal and Mohammed Jaabis, a military statement said. They were placed under demolition orders after the men attacked Israelis last year.

Armed with meat cleavers and a pistol, Abu Jamal and his cousin Uday Abu Jamal killed four rabbis and a policeman before being shot dead in November 2014.

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play