Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is calling on Washington to intervene in the deteriorating situation in Jerusalem, where increased clashes between Palestinians and Israelis are leading to fears of an impending uprising, or intifada.

Last week’s attack on a trolley platform ratcheted up the tensions.  A Palestinian drove his father’s car into commuters on the platform, killing a three-month old baby.  Police shot the attacker as he tried to flee, and he later died at hospital.  A 22-year old Ecuadorian woman who was injured the attack died on Sunday night. 

Israeli ultranationalists have followed up with clashes in Palestinian areas.  And over the weekend, a Palestinian-American teen was killed in a confrontation with Israeli troops.

Just as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held the Palestinian Authority responsible for the trolley stop attack, Palestinians are putting the blame on Israel for stoking tensions.

“I certainly don’t see this moving in the direction of calming down,” said Palestinian minister Adnan Husseini.  “The Israeli government is doing everything to accelerate tensions and make things more difficult.  We have a confrontation in almost every area of Jerusalem, on every street.  It may not have been announced, but is seems there is a small Intifada already.”

But the worsening relations between Israel and the Obama Administration are complicating Abbas’ pleas for US intervention. 

Last week, Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon visited Washington for routine visits with top American officials – and was snubbed by all except for his counterpart, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.  Ya’alon’s bombastic and juvenile criticisms of US Secretary of State John Kerry’s efforts to hold Mideast peace talks have made him persona non grata in the White House.  Both the Obama Administration and the Palestinians blame Ya’alon for sabotaging Kerry’s efforts and for the weakening of Palestinian President Abbas before, during, and after the recent Gaza war.