Jerusalem —- In the second such attack this month, a Palestinian construction worker driving an earthmover went on a rampage on a busy Jerusalem street Tuesday, injuring 16 people —- one seriously —- before being shot to death.

The attack occurred only a block from the King David Hotel, where Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama was due to stay Tuesday night.

Obama had not arrived at the time, and police said they did not believe there was any connection between the rampage and the senator's scheduled visit.

Still, the attack reinforced fears in Jerusalem, which until this spring had enjoyed four years of relative quiet. Tuesday's rampage followed an eerily similar incident just three weeks ago, when another Palestinian construction worker used an earthmover to ram cars and buses, killing three people and injuring more than 40. In March, a gunman killed eight students in a rabbinical seminary.

In all three incidents, a Palestinian resident of mostly Arab East Jerusalem crossed into predominantly Jewish West Jerusalem to carry out an attack.

In each case, the Palestinian had an Israeli identity card that permitted him to work in Israel.

The string of attacks has ignited debate in Israel over whether more restrictions should be placed on Palestinian residents —- a challenge for a city that has not been physically divided since 1967. Israel captured East Jerusalem that year and later annexed it.

There have also been calls in Israel for the government to take stronger action against the families of any Palestinian who carries out an attack.

"If they had ruined his house or deported his family, maybe this man would have thought twice about what he did," said a witness to Tuesday's attack, Nathaniel Sterman, 16, referring to the driver in the July 2 attack.

Tuesday's assailant was identified as Ghasan Abu Teir, 23, who had been operating the earthmover at the nearby construction site of a luxury apartment complex.

At his East Jerusalem home, relatives said they were in shock. "He has no political affiliation," said a cousin, Mustafa Abu Teir. "All he does is work."

He said his cousin was a religious man who had dropped out of school after eighth grade to get a job.

Abu Teir's rampage ended when a reserve-duty Israeli military officer, Yaakov Asael, 53, got out of his car and shot him, police said.

Obama, in Jordan, called the attack "a reminder of what Israelis have courageously lived with on a daily basis for far too long." He added, "I strongly condemn this attack and will always support Israel in confronting terrorism and pursuing lasting peace and security."