Fatafta brothers in court
צילום: גיל יוחנן
East Jerusalem residents charged with shooting Jews
Three Jabel Mukaber residents charged with shooting attack on patrol vehicle in Silwan, during which security guard was injured. Two of them charged with throwing firebomb at Border Guard vehicle
An indictment was filed Wednesday morning against three residents of the east Jerusalem neighborhood Jabel Mukaber for the attempted murder of Jews in Silwan.
According to the indictment, which was filed with the Jerusalem District Court, on March 1 brothers Qayid and Moussa Fatafta carried out a shooting attack on a patrol vehicle that regularly escorts Jews who reside in the Beit Yonatan complex along with another east Jerusalem Arab - Isa Abassi.
One of the vehicle's passengers, a security guard, was injured in the attack.
The prosecution asked the court to order the suspects remain in police custody until the conclusion of legal proceedings "for fear they may compromise public or state security."
In addition to attempted murder, the defendants have also been charged with illegal possession of a firearm and conspiracy to commit a crime.
Fatafta brothers in court. "We're being framed." (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
"We are being framed," one of the Fatafta said in court, "This (shooting) was related to a family dispute."
The prosecution claims Qayid Fatafta and Abbasi waited for the vehicle at the entrance to a mosque while Moussa stayed in their car as a lookout. According to the indictment, Abbasi fired 11 bullets at the passing vehicle, but Qayid's gun jammed. Moussa Fatfata and Abbasi later concealed the gun in Fatfata's yard.
Abbasi and Moussa Fatfata were also charged with throwing a Molotov cocktail and stones at Border Guard vehicles in Silwan. One of the vehicles caught fire, but there were no injuries.
Qayid Fatafta is suspected of threatening to shoot a shopkeeper in Silwan. Fatfata, who claimed the shopkeeper owed him money, fired two shots into the air, the indictment read.
