PM Netanyahu orders 'significant' police deployment

Israeli Prime Minister has ordered a "significant" hike in police deployment in Jerusalem, in an effort to quell the clashes that have broken out.

The order came after Israeli authorities raised their level of preparedness to three, the second highest.

In a speech on Thursday morning, Netanyahu commended the Israeli security services for "solving the terror attack quickly", in reference to yesterday's attempted assassination of a right-wing Israeli activist and the shooting dead of a suspect this morning.

Netanyahu said Israel was "faced with a wave of incitement led by radical Islamist elements as well as by PA chairman Abbas."

"The international community must stop its hypocrisy and act against inciters who try to change the status quo on Temple Mount."

Israel has come under significant pressure from key allies like the US over settlement policies and plans to divide al-Aqsa Mosque, known to Jewish worshippers as Temple Mount.

US-Israeli ties are severely strained after an article published by The Atlantic quoted a US official as saying that Netanyahu was "chickenshit", and that relations between the countries are undergoing a "full-blown crisis."

In a speech on Wednesday night, the full text of which can be found here, Netanyahu said: "I respect and appreciate our deep ties with the US.

"Since the foundation of our state we have had disagreements with the US and we will yet have them. But this is not at the expense of the deep ties between our people and countries."

Netanyahu also stressed that he had "risked his life" for Israel many times, and is "responsible for Israel's security."