Jerusalem was the scene of a murder this past weekend--or at least the hills beyond the city were, according to Fox News. Two women--Kay Susan Wilson and Kristine Luken (formerly believed to be named Christine Logan) were allegedly stabbed during a hike outside the city by two Arab men.
Susan Wilson, one of the alleged victims, lived; Kristine Luken, the other woman, died from stab wounds.
Jerusalem stabbing victims: previously all male
Stabbings in and right outside of Jerusalem are not uncommon, per se, but they are few and far between. The circumstances and victims in this particular attack are, according to records analyzed from the Jerusalem Post by this profiler--unusual, to say the least.
Victims of stabbings in Jerusalem since 2006--and there aren't that many--have all been male. And one victim was actually an Arab male; whereas the recent stabbing attack alleged by Susan Wilson, the surviving woman in this "attack," was allegedly perpetrated by two Arab males.
Terrorists not stabbers typically, more into bombing
Terrorism has been named by Israeli police as a possible motive for this crime, but it isn't supported by any groups claim and the police are not ruling out criminal intent from another source.
Jerusalem is a hotbed for terrorist attention, but it is normally focused on Israeli soldiers and Israeli citizens who live and work in the West Bank, bordering Palestine. Neither female is alleged to have had any political affiliations that would have prompted a terroristic attack.
Personal more than terroristic?
The unusual circumstances--one woman buried beneath a bush, the other left out in the open (one murdered, the other left alive)--raise all kinds of speculation and conjecture that make it a crime more likely personal in nature rather than terroristic, where all victims are treated the same.
The stabbings in Jerusalem to date, which preceded this weekends alleged attack against the two women, include male teen victims and their male attackers (who had anti-semetic leanings); an off-duty male soldier at a nightclub, and a domestic dispute that escalated between two males.
No prior female stabbings
Female stabbings are a rarity and none have been reported in the Jerusalem Post at all in recent years except a 70-year-old woman's stabbing in her home, but she was the victim of theft.
In addition, the male stabbings that did get reported were all involving people from the region--not British or American citizens, lending no credible support that this alleged attack is motivated politically.
Kristine Luken is alleged to have been formerly of the state of Virginia in the U.S., according to WUSA Channel 9 News, and she is said to have been in the country on a mission endeavor with a group known as "The Church's Ministry among Jewish People (CMJ)."
Fox News reported that Susan Wilson had become a naturalized citizen in Israel, orginially hailing from Britian. She would, therefore, be familiar with news of stabbings in the area in previous years and worked as a part time tourist guide, inevitably very familiar with the danger zones of the city and any potential threat of danger.
Religion a factor?
Susan Wilson told the Israeli police that the alleged attackers turned her over to "gently" remove her Star of David necklace before stabbing her where it lay.
This is so out of character for anyone targeting her for religious or terroristic reasons it makes those considerations almost a moot point. Anyone who hated Star of David jewelry enough to stab the victim where the star had lain on their body would not have gently removed the necklace first. They would have desired to destroy it along with her.
Anyone with a high regard for a Star of David necklace enough to carefully remove it wouldn't then likely go on to stab the wearer of it. And terrorists who opposed the faith altogether wouldn't have bothered to take the necklace at all.
Missionary effort the reason for death?
Susan Wilson was familiar with the terrain as a tourist guide. She was cognizant of the prior--but rare--stabbings against men in the area, and the tensions between the Arabs and Jews, yet she felt safe enough to hike in the area. Wilson was a Jewish follower herself, or she appreciated their culture enough to wear a Star of David necklace.
Kristine Luken entered the country as a missionary in order to introduce Jewish people to the Christian faith. That can create hostilities. But those hostile to missionaries seek to harm more than one at a time, generally, and she was not with the missionary group on the day of her death.
Personal conflict between two women or two unkown Arab men assailants responsible?
Fox News reported that Israeli police had scoured the countryside almost immediately upon Susan Wilson's presence becoming known, but to no avail. Law enforcement checked out hospitals for any males treated for knife wounds, as Wilson claimed to have a small knife on her own person during the attack--and to have used it.
No Arab men were found at or near the scene; no Arab men with wounds were treated at any of the hospitals checked. No Arab terrorists have claimed credit for the attacks and no Arab men have been arrested or sought in connection with the crime as of Sunday evening.
Knife use
Stabbings in Jerusalem have, historically, been perpetrated by either male teens, bar brawling men or males living in close proximity of one another. Knives are not generally the bread, serrated types used in these altercations, with men favoring switchblades and pocket knives more as they are smaller and easier to conceal.
Women tend to use serrated bread knives as protection, especially when they are unable to enter a country with a gun or other form of protection. Hikers have uses for such knives, too, especially if they plan to make camp or prepare any meals during their excursion. And their larger bags or hiking packs accommodate carrying such larger weapons.
Another Jerusalem stabbing or something else?
Israeli police are likely to exhaust all possible connections to an Arab assault before seeking to reinterview the alleged victim Susan Wilson prior to her release from a Jerusalem hospital in the next few days.
If police find no evidence of any alleged assailants--or if they find Kristine Luken's blood on Wilson's personal knife, which she said she carried with her that day--and used on the assailants, then they will likely begin looking for a personal motive in the stabbing of the missionary this weekend and why Susan Wilson suffered light wounds (and was left out in the open, to escape), but Kristine Luken was stabbed deeper, confirmed dead, and buried beneath bushes.
References: The Jerusalem Post and Fox News
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