News
Violence continues to simmer in Jerusalem, politicians spar over response
Following a terror attack on Wednesday, in which a three-month-old baby died after a local Palestinian rammed his car into a crowd of commuters, unrest and violence continued yesterday in Jerusalem.
Israel Radio reported that rioters threw firecrackers and Molotov cocktails at Jewish homes in the Old City. Meanwhile, a kindergarten in the Ma’aleh Zeitim neighbourhood, near that Arab area of Ras al-Amoud, was pelted with stones yesterday by masked assailants. There were also reports of stone-throwing in Issawiya and A-Tor, while the light railway station in Shuafat was also attacked, a regular occurrence during the past several months.
Low-level violence has simmered in Jerusalem ever since major clashes occurred in July, in the wake of the murder of a 16-year-old local Palestinian in an act of revenge for the murder of three Israeli teenagers whose bodies were discovered the previous week.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday ordered that an additional Border Police company be deployed to Jerusalem and said that intelligence and other law enforcement measures would also be bolstered. He commented, “Every attempt to harm its [Jerusalem’s] people will be met with a stronger response. We will return peace and security to Jerusalem.”
However, Economy Minister and Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett said extra security is inadequate and that Israel should respond to the violence with further construction in East Jerusalem. Bennett explained, “What we need to do is to say, ‘We are staying here, we’re building in our capital,’ and I call on the prime minister to expedite the approval of construction permits.”
Justice Minister and Hatnuah leader Tzipi Livni condemned such actions and rhetoric, saying, “We also must stop our populist declarations, irresponsible draft bills, construction as a provocation.” She warned that, “we are a step away from a national conflict turning into a religious one” and declared that “Israeli wisdom and patriotism means hitting the brakes hard, driving responsibly and smartly,” to diffuse the tension.