An Arab youth attacked an Orthodox Jewish man with an axe on Hanevi´im Street in east Jerusalem near the Damascus Gate Monday morning, in what was described as likely a nationalist attack.

The victim of the attack, a man around 60 years old, suffered light injuries to his head. Magen David Adom paramedics evacuated him to Hadassah University Medical Center in Jerusalem´s Ein Kerem for medical treatment.

The suspect managed to escape the scene of the attack but police were searching the area for him.

A number of nationalist or racial attacks have taken place in Jerusalem in the past month.

Nearly three weeks ago, a Palestinian teenager stabbed a 19-year-old femal soldier on the capital´s light rail, seriously wounding her. The soldier recovered and was released from the hospital a number of days later. The attacker was apprehended while attempting to flee to Palestinian-controlled areas.

Last week, the 18-year-old Palestinian was indicted for attempted murder. The defendant, Muhammad Shuman from the Beit Hanina neighborhood, was also charged with possession of a knife and obstruction of justice.

Last week, two Jewish men, one adult and one minor, were arrested on suspicion of assaulting a 20-year-old Arab resident of east Jerusalem with a wooden plank on the light rail. The victim was lightly injured.

In March, police opened an investigation and detained and arrested a number of Beitar Jerusalem soccer fans for attacking Arab workers and families at the city´s Malha Mall. The incident attracted widespread attention as video footage of the attack circulated on the Internet and it was revealed police had failed to open an investigation into the incident. (© 1995-2011, The Jerusalem Post 04/02/12)