A Palestinian youth has been attacked and wounded by three Israelis in Jerusalem amid heightening sectarian tensions in the city.

Police have investigated the attack, which occurred in the Jewish settlement of Pisgat Ze'ev, east Jerusalem, and which they claim was probably motivated by nationalism.

The victim, who has not been named, was taken to a local hospital with light wounds and was reported to be in a stable condition.

The attack is the last in a series of violent incidents to hit the region, with tensions being fuelled by a controversy over a contested Jerusalem holy site.

The Temple Mount, or Al-Aqsa compound, has witnessed clashes after proposals to enhance access for Jews, who they are currently banned from praying there.

More than 10 people have been killed in attacks by Palestinian assailants in recent months. Most of the violence occurred in Jerusalem, but sites in Tel Aviv and the West Bank were also hit.

At the weekend a Palestinian house was firebombed by suspected Jewish extremists.

The development came as the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu backed a controversial law that critics argue will make Arab-Israelis second-class citizens.

A bill codifying the legal definition of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, is to be voted by the Knesset this week and has been branded by Arab lawmakers as "racist".