Checkpoints and Tight Security in Jerusalem
MANISHA TANK, HOST: I'm, Manisha Tank in Hong Kong. A warm welcome to News Stream. Checkpoints and tight security in Jerusalem after a string of attacks across the city. We'll explain why Kenya is forcing people to leave the world's largest refugee camp. And testing out the latest innovation from Tesla, an upgrade that allow cars to take over and drive themselves. Fear hangs over Jerusalem after a string of knife attacks against Israelis. Security is tight around Palestinian neighborhoods where checkpoints have been set up and heavily armed police are on guard. This follows two attacks in Jerusalem on Wednesday. Police shot and killed a man who allegedly lunged at officers with a knife. Authorities identified him as 19-year-old from the West Bank. Then, an elderly woman was stabbed at a bus station. Her attacker was also shot by police. So, let's take a moment to look at what's happening there. Authorities say many of the knife attacks have been carried out by young people. On Monday, we saw four stabbings. One occurred near a religious landmark where police shot and killed a Palestinian man who stabbed an officer. His family described the suspect as an 18-year-old from East Jerusalem. In another attack -- and this happened inside a bus -- a Palestinian man allegedly tried to strangle and stab a soldier. And that was followed by a number of attacks on Tuesday targeting bus passengers. A man rammed his vehicle into a bus stop and ran over people. Then he got out of his car and stabbed them, killing one of them. So, for the latest from Jerusalem now, and an update on what is a very tense situation. We can talk to Erin McLaughlin. She's there. She's been following this story very closely. And I would imagine that we've seen troop deployments where, you know, we have all of these sporadic attacks. People must be really fearing for their lives.</s>ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN CORREPSONDENT: Yeah, there's fear and anxiety here in Jerusalem, Manisha and an illustration of that angst. This morning on a train to Haifa, Israeli police say a group of Israeli soldiers thought they saw someone who was suspicious. Soldiers yelled out on the train terrorist. And one of the soldiers fired his gun. Now the train arrived at the station and was searched and there was nothing there, it was a false alarm. It really just shows you how people here are on edge. Now, there's been no new reports of violence today, but yesterday there were two separate incidents, one that took place outside the old city, Damascus gate entrance to the old city. Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian man who they say attempted to stab a group of police officers inadvertently. When they shot at the attacker, they also shot and injured an Israeli civilian as well as a tourist. And then later in the day there was an attack at a bus station, police say, a Palestinian man stabbed, 72-year-old woman, wounding her. He was shot -- the attacker was shot and killed as well. And all of this taking place amidst a backdrop of incredible security. Thousands of additional police officers deployed not just in Jerusalem, but also in cities across Israel. They've taken the unusual step as well of deploying in some cases soldiers to patrol alongside police officers in Israeli cities. And there's also been these checkpoints that have been set up inside predominately Arab neighborhoods in East Jerusalem. And amidst all of that, these attacks are persisting. So what we're seeing is Israelis arming themselves, the people who have gun licenses are carrying -- now carrying their guns. And in fact some cases government officials actively encouraging that. And stores in Jerusalem that sell weapons, pepper spray completely sold out. And Palestinians are saying they're scared as well. They're scared as well. They're very concerned about what could happen if, say, they reach for their cellphone. And that's perceived by Israeli forces as something else. So, what we're seeing right now is fear and anxiety on both sides.</s>TANK: People very, very much on edge, aren't they, Erin. But let's talk about the nature of these attacks. We're describing it as a wave, but there is a sporadic nature to them. And we're also noticing that a lot of the perpetrators are youngsters. So, do we know why this is happening and why it's happening now?</s>MCLAUGHLIN: That's right. Some of the attackers have been described by Israeli police as being Palestinian teenagers, some as young 13-years- old, many of the attackers are suspects coming from east Jerusalem neighborhoods. And many described -- Israeli authorities describing the attacks as carried out by so-called lone wolves, very difficult to predict, very difficult to prevent. Now what has sparked all of this, well it very much depends on who you ask. Israeli officials are pointing to incitement that they say has taken place online. And they point to organizations such as Fatah and Hamas. They say they're producing videos online that they say are inciting violent, that are encouraging people to go out and make their own videos as well as carry out these attacks. Now Palestinian leaders, though, they're pointing the blame at the Israeli leadership, specifically Israel's policy towards the holy site known to Jews as the Temple Mount, known to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary. And the Israeli government has in place a number of restrictions, age restrictions on Muslim men who can access this site to pray. And they also have Palestinian leadership has been protesting what they say is increasing pace of visits to the site from the Israeli far right. All of that, Palestinian leadership pointing to as inflaming the situation. Palestinian leadership also saying that the only way to stop the violence, in their words, is to end the occupation and the oppression.</s>TANK: Yeah. And U.S. Secretary John Kerry -- Secretary of State John Kerry says he will also go to the region soon. We'll leave it there for now, though, Erin. Thanks very much to you and the rest of the team for keeping us up to date. Now, the Russian media is quoting the President Vladimir Putin as saying he can't understand why the U.S. refuses to hold meetings on a military and political solution to the crisis in Syria. Both countries are carrying out airstrikes there, but independently chose their targets. Now, a U.S. official tells CNN that they are close to an understanding with Moscow regarding pilot safety over Syrian airspace. Russia says it has already begun joint training with Israel to ensure the safety of flights over Syria. Now, to the conflict that has burdened the U.S. military for 14 years and counting. President Barack Obama had promised the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan would be down to 5,500 by year's end, but looks like that won't happen. He's set to announce the troop drawdown will be delayed again as the Taliban and other groups are still a threat to Afghanistan's security. Well, CNN senior Washington correspondent Joe Johns is with us now from the White House. You know, Joe, I would imagine that these sorts of decisions, you know, they're a long time in the making, but there are a lot of people who were trying things together here and saying after we saw what happened in Kunduz, was this proof that the U.S. needed to rethink its policy?</s>JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think it was verification for sure. The facts of the matter is this is a decision that the White House has been pondering for months. And they are essentially announcing a new plan that is the same as the old plan. CNN's Jim Acosta reporting overnight that the administration now is going to keep the number of military personnel in Afghanistan -- and it's there now, about 9,800 people through the end of 2016. Then in 2017, right around the time the president is leaving office to reduce that to about 5,500, that is a big difference from what the administration initially targeting. They were hoping to have only about 1,000 U.S. military personnel in the country around the time the president was leaving. They do say, Manisha, that there are a number of reasons for that, including the stubbornness of the Taliban and al Qaeda in the country. They also want to continue their program to train and equip friendly Afghan forces on the ground there in that country. They're also concerned about emergencies in Afghanistan including the type of thing we saw in Kunduz. And there's also the question of just leaving open the options for the next president of the United States, whoever that may be. So, a lot of reason for the administration to continue on the path they are on now. We do expect to hear from President Obama some time today to talk just a little bit more about his reasons, Manisha.</s>TANK: We will certainly look forward to that with interest. Joe, thank you so much for that. Joe Johns there live from Capitol Hill. You are watching News Stream. Still to come on this program, UEFA President Michel Platini under review. European football leaders are meeting to discuss his suspension as FIFA vice president. And of course his future. And North Korea may be struggling economically, but you wouldn't know it by Kim Jong un's latest gifts to his people. CNN takes you on an exclusive tour. Also, putting Tesla's Model S to the test. We go on a little road trip to try out its new driverless function.