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Jews attacked in Silwan

Vehicle stranded in east Jerusalem neighborhood due to car trouble pelted with stones, Molotov cocktails. Passengers rescued by Border Guard officers unharmed

Some 40 residents of the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Silwan stoned an Israeli vehicle that was stranded in the area due to car trouble. The incident occurred around 7 pm Wednesday, when the vehicle approached one of the neighborhood's mosques, and was stormed by an angry mob, including people wearing masks.

 

The attackers hurled a Molotov cocktail at the car, but it failed to ignite. They then attempted to remove the passengers from the vehicle, and the passengers were quick to lock the doors.

 

Security guards rushed to the scene, and were also pelted with stones and Molotov cocktails. Once the guards felt their lives were in danger, they began to fire in the air in an attempt to disperse the rioters, but to no avail.

 

Consequently, a Border Guard force was alerted to the scene, and proceeded to rescue the passengers. The Jewish residents of the neighborhood in a talk with Ynet warned that violence in the area was only increasing, but was not being handled by the authorities.

 

In another incident in east Jerusalem on Wednesday, three unknown assailants attacked a security guard near the Old City, and managed to snatch his weapon. The guard was lightly injured in the incident, and was evacuated to Hadassah Medical Center.

 

Police officers were able to locate the weapon, and combed the area in search of the suspects.

 

Tensions in Silwan have been growing in recent months, partly due to the disputed Beit Yehonatan. Last week the Jerusalem District Court for Administration Affairs rejected a petition by the structures inhabitant to delay the execution of order calling for its enclosure.

 

Jerusalem Municipality workers visited the site over a month ago and carried out measurements ahead of its enclosure. The distribution of evacuation orders at the house was called off last minute when the city began working on a plan to include the structure in the municipal construction plan, which was also ultimately rejected.

 


פרסום ראשון: 06.02.10, 22:38
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