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Fighting between Israeli troops and militants on the Lebanese border and in Gaza eased late Friday as neither side seemed eager to prolong the recent violence.
Earlier Friday, Israel launched airstrikes in Gaza and Lebanon in retaliation for rocket attacks on Israel that the government blamed on the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.
The lull in the attacks calmed fears that a big escalation of the Israel-Palestinian conflict was unfolding.
However, two Israeli sisters were killed and their mother was wounded in a shooting in the occupied West Bank, and soldiers were hunting for the gunman.
Hamas, which rules Gaza, praised the shooting but stopped short of claiming responsibility.
Ramadan prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, where violence between Israeli police and Muslim worshippers erupted earlier in the week, were conducted without major incident Friday. Apart from some stone-throwing, police said the compound was quiet.
"Nobody wants an escalation right now," an Israeli army spokesman said. "Quiet will be answered with quiet at this stage, I think, at least in the coming hours."
One official with a Palestinian militant group told Reuters the group was ready to keep the calm should Israel do the same, with the group having "made its point."
Earlier Friday, Israeli airstrikes hit parts of Gaza, where the military said there were tunnels and manufacturing sites for Hamas weapons.
The Israeli military said it also targeted Hamas installations in southern Lebanon in airstrikes launched Friday. A Lebanese television station said there were explosions in the southern port city of Tyre.
The military said it was increasing troop presence along the country's borders with Lebanon and Gaza "to prepare for all possible scenarios."
Tensions have been brewing in the region following the clash between Israeli police and Palestinians inside Al-Aqsa, Islam's third-holiest site. The site is part of the Old City of Jerusalem, sacred to Christians, Jews and Muslims. The al-Aqsa compound overlooks the Western Wall, a sacred place of prayer for Jews for whom the Temple Mount is their most sacred site. Jews believe biblical King Solomon built the first temple there 3,000 years ago.
Chaos erupted at the mosque before dawn prayers Wednesday between Israeli police wielding batons and Palestinian worshippers chanting pro-Hamas slogans.
Israeli police raided Al-Aqsa and beat Palestinian worshippers, arresting and removing hundreds of people from the compound in what they said was an effort to remove agitators holed up in the mosque.
Video of the raid drew condemnation from across the Arab world.
During Ramadan, Muslims see it as a religious duty to remain overnight and pray at mosques.
On Thursday, Israel said dozens of rocket attacks were launched into Israel from Lebanese territory. Israel blamed Hamas for the attacks, although the group did not say it was behind them.
The salvos included the largest from Lebanon since a 2006 war with Iran-backed Hezbollah. They interrupted the Jewish holiday of Passover and sent residents running for shelters. Rocket strikes from Gaza hit at least one house, Reuters reports.
Israel called on the U.N. Security Council to condemn Lebanon and Hamas for the attack.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday, "Israel's response tonight and in the future will exact a heavy price."
The United States, Britain and the United Nations, while recognizing Israel's right to self-defense, have urged restraint.
Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.