JERUSALEM — Hundreds of soldiers fanned out in cities across Israel on Wednesday and authorities erected concrete barriers outside some Arab neighborhoods of east Jerusalem in a stepped up effort to counter a monthlong wave of Palestinian violence that has seen near daily attacks. Despite the escalated security, two assaults were reported Wednesday – the stabbing of a 70-year-old Israeli woman outside a crowded Jerusalem bus station and the attempted knifing of police officers outside the Old City. Meanwhile, Secretary of State John Kerry plans to travel to the Middle East soon.