Why Israelis call this the 'ground zero' of terror

Once the main exit from the Old City of Jerusalem to the north, Damascus Gate - Sha'ar Shkhem in Hebrew or Bab al Amud in Arabic - is still a major thoroughfare and commercial centre of east Jerusalem.

In recent months it has also become one of the main sites for Palestinian attacks, and as a result is being called the "ground zero of terror".

Nearly a third of all the attacks that have taken place in the past four months have been around the gate - and over the past few weeks the gate has been the location of almost half the total number of attacks, with as many as three stabbing attempts on some days.

There are several reasons for the concentration of attacks. Assailants know that they will always find in the area both security personnel and Israeli civilians walking to the Western Wall.