Two IDF  Border policemen were wounded in a stabbing attack Monday morning by the Lions’ Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem, by an Arab from a neighborhood that has been the source of some of the deadliest attacks in Israel.

The attack took place around 4:00 am, when the terrorist, armed with a large knife, entered the guard booth where the two policemen were stationed. The Palestinian terrorist stabbed the policemen, who were limited in their response by the cramped quarters. One of the IDF soldiers managed to exit the booth, load his weapon, and shoot the terrorist. One of the IDF soldiers suffered serious wounds while the other suffered moderate wounds. The terrorist was taken to the hospital where he died of his wounds.

Security was on high alert and extra troops deployed in the city for the holiday of Purim. Celebrated on Sunday in most of the rest of the country, “Shushan Purim” is celebrated one day later in cities that were surrounded by walls at the time that Joshua first led the Jews into Israel after the Exodus from Egypt, an estimated 3,500 years ago.

The terrorist was identified by Arabic media as Ibrahim Mahmoud Mattara, a 25-year-old resident of East Jerusalem’s Jabel Mukaber neighborhood. Several terrorists have come from this Arab suburb of Jerusalem, including the terrorist who killed four soldiers and injured 15 in a ramming attack in January. Hamas has a strong following in this section of Jerusalem, and a Hamas flag was found in Mattara’s home after the attack.

In November 2014, two Arabs from the village gruesome stabbing-axe attack in the Har Nof Synagogue in November 2014, killing seven Jews while they were praying, and a Druze policeman, who was the first on the scene.

Another resident of the village carried out a shooting attack almost exactly 9 years ago in Mercaz Harav Yeshiva, killing 8 students. Two Arabs from the village carried out a shooting-stabbing attack on an Israeli bus in October 2015, killing three Israelis.

Israel conquered the town as part of East Jerusalem in 1967. When it was annexed in 1980, the Israeli government offered citizenship to the residents, many of whom rejected the offer, and remained as permanent residents. As holders of ‘blue’ identity cards identical to thse of Jewish citizens, they have wide freedom of movement within Israel, and access to health care, unemployment and other benefits.