Under Stone-Throwing Attacks, Jerusalem Jews Say: ‘The Police Have Abandoned Us’

By: Aryeh Savir, Tazpit News Agency

Published: October 16th, 2012

Photo Credit: Aryeh Rozan - Tazpit News Agency

For the past four months, the Jewish residents of the Nof Tzion neighborhood in eastern Jerusalem have been suffering from repeated stone attacks, carried out by Arabs from the neighboring Jabel Mukaber. The residents have approached the police on the issue numerous times; the police have been unable to gain control of the situation. These attacks occur every few days, endangering the lives of the ninety families living there. In most cases, the incidents end with damage to cars or property, but last month a ten tear old girl was wounded by stones while playing in the backyard with her friends, requiring stitches to her head.

There has lately been a general increase in terrorist activity in the Jerusalem vicinity, and the residents of Nof Tzion are experiencing it as well. In this case, there is a direct correlation between the attacks and the opening of a new high school in Jabel Mukaber, situated right above Nof Tzion. Arab students throw stones and objects at the homes, and damage the cars in the parking lot. A smashed car is found every few days.

The police were notified about the incidents. Their response was to ask the residents to install security cameras and to join the Civil Guard. They did as they were told at a cost of thousands of Shekels. The cameras documented the attacks, and the footage was passed on to the police. The police claimed they could not identify anyone from the footage, stating they could not ensure the residents safety every moment of the day.

In a recent incident, a resident's car was hit, and when a few Jewish youths blocked the roads in response, the police finally showed up.

One of the residents reported that Arab youths come to the kindergarten and kick the Jewish kids out, chanting "Slaughter the Jews."

The residents speak of a general fear to walk freely in the neighborhood. They feel they have been abandoned by the police.

The police have stated that they are working continuously to catch the culprits, adding that only four incidents have been logged over the past four months.