JERUSALEM – Israelis living in the Old City in Jerusalem and tourists coming to visit the Holy Basin are the target of an increasing wave of violence perpetrated by Arabs, this according to a report compiled by a civilian security company guarding the area and published by IDF Radio. The report shows that March was more violent then the three preceding months, with 157 nationalistically motivated attacks. 150 incidents were registered during February, 120 in January and 140 in December. The lowest number of attacks recorded in the past two and a half years was 80 attacks a month, which translate into almost three attacks a day.
The Israeli communities and neighborhoods in this Old City area are secured by civilian security companies contracted by the Ministry of Construction. These companies run a daily log of events, which depict a violent reality of potentially deadly attacks including fire bombs, IED’s and the firing of firecrackers at buildings. Stone-throwing consisted of 80% of the attacks. Most attacks end with no injury.
Although these attacks are high and volume and pose a tremendous danger the Knesset has paid little attention to the issue.
Tazpit News Agency records such attacks on a daily basis. Just last night a policeman was wounded by stones near the Lion Gate. Of further note, on April 30thArabs threw stones at some 800 Israeli marchers who were participating in the monthly march around the Old City walls. During that same night Some 30 Arabs rioters threw firecrackers at the Emet house in the Old City, confronting Border Policemen and throwing bottles and stones at them. One Border Policeman was lightly wounded. On April 23rd Arabs threw stones at bus #65 on a main route in Jerusalem, right next to police national headquarters, injuring one of the passengers. The woman was transported to Hadassah Har Tzofim hospital. Several other passengers were treated for shock.
By Aryeh Savir
Tazpit News Agency