In East Jerusalem, locals are still coming to terms with the trauma of the attack that left seven people dead as they gathered to pray at a synagogue on January 27. That attack was followed by a second incident the following day, which injured two Israelis. Both attacks seem to be in retaliation for an Israeli raid on the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank earlier that week. The Israeli army says it targeted a particular house believed to be housing key members of Islamic Jihad who were planning imminent attacks in Israel.
Tensions between Israelis and Palestinians were high even before last week's bloodshed, and have been rising since a spate of Palestinian attacks that began last spring. Since then, dozens of Palestinians have been killed, and more than 31 Israelis. But many fear that even worse is yet to come.
Elected on promises that have added fuel to the fire, observers say the policies and the leaders of Israel's new far-right government are likely to further inflame tensions.
For analysis, we speak to Gershon Baskin, director of The Holy Land Bond and a columnist for The Jerusalem Post and Al-Quds newspapers.
