Security situation in and around Jerusalem 15 Sep 2015
Israeli Missions Around The World Washington News Security situation in and around Jerusalem 15 Sep 2015

Security situation in and around Jerusalem

  • 9/15/2015
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    PM Netanyahu: "We intend to give soldiers and police officers the tools necessary to act very firmly against those who throw stones and firebombs. We are changing our policy to declare war on those who throw rocks and firebombs."
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    Alexander Levlovich killed on Rosh Hashanah after his car was stoned in Jerusalem Alexander Levlovich killed on Rosh Hashanah after his car was stoned in Jerusalem Copyright: Jerusalem Fire and Rescue
     
     
    (Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)
     
    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday evening (15 September 2015) convened a discussion on the security situation in and around Jerusalem and said at the start of the meeting: "We will use all necessary measures to fight against those who throw stones, firebombs, pipebombs and fireworks in order to attack civilians and police. On the eve of the holiday it was again proven that throwing stones can kill. Such actions will be met with very sharp punitive and preventive responses. We will lead systemic changes and will set a new standard of deterrence and prevention."
     
    It was decided to increase steps in several areas: Changing open-fire orders will be examined as will be setting minimum sentences for these offenses and imposing heavy fines on minors - and their parents - who commit these offenses.
     
    Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized that Israel is committed to maintaining the status quo on the Temple Mount and added that rioters would not be allowed to prevent Jews from visiting the Mount. The Prime Minister directed that a further discussion be held next week in order to advance the steps decided on this evening.
     
    Also attending the discussion were Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, Jerusalem Affairs Minister Zeev Elkin, Transportation and Road Safety Minister Yisrael Katz, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, Acting Police Commissioner Bentzi Sau. ISA Director Yoram Cohen, Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein, National Security Adviser Yossi Cohen, Foreign Ministry Director General Dr. Dore Gold, attorney Isaac Molcho and other senior officials.

    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday morning (16 September 2015) toured the Jerusalem neighborhood of Armon Hanatziv where Alexander Levlovich was killed. PM Netanyahu issued the following statement:
     
    "We are changing policy. The present situation is unacceptable and we intend to give soldiers and police officers provide the tools necessary to act very firmly against those who throw stones and firebombs. The stone does not distinguish between a car hit here, in which an Israeli citizen was killed, and a rock thrown within the Green Line. We are also going to adopt changes in the rules of engagement and for minimum sentences on those who throw stones and firebombs. In addition, we will massively increase fines for minors and their families to create deterrence there as well. In the State of Israel these phenomena are intolerable, and I'm not just talking about the roads to Jerusalem or about Jerusalem itself, I am talking about the Galilee and the Negev as well. We are changing our policy to declare war on those who throw rocks and firebombs."
     
    Regarding the Temple Mount, the Prime Minister said:
     
    "We are in favor of strictly maintaining the status quo on the Temple Mount. The status quo is upset constantly by agitators and rioters who barricade themselves on the Temple Mount and harass worshipers, or, more precisely, the Jewish visitors. This is also unacceptable to us. We are dealing with this, in cooperation and dialogue with Jordan, and not just with them."


    PM Netanyahu to Cabinet (20 September): "Stones and firebombs are deadly weapons; they kill and have killed. Therefore, in recent days we have changed the open-fire orders for police in Jerusalem. Already over the weekend they used the new measures under the new orders and immediately hit those throwing stones and firebombs. Today we will facilitate an additional expansion of the ability of the police to foil the throwing of stones and firebombs and we will continue to add forces in order to strike at rioters under a simple principle that we will begin to implement around and within its borders: Whoever tries to attack us, we will hurt him.
     
    We have also started to quickly advance legislation to impose fines on the parents of minors who throw stones and firebombs. No less important in my view is the advancing of legislation to set minimum punishments for those who throw stones, firebombs and fireworks. We cannot accept the principle that in Jerusalem our capital, or in any part of the State of Israel, in the Galilee or in the Negev, people will organize terrorism and begin to stone passing cars or throw stones and murder people."

     

  • Increase in violence

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    On the eve of Rosh Hashanah (September 13), a Jew wearing a prayer shawl was brutally attacked by Palestinians in Jerusalem's Old City.

    Jew wearing a prayer shawl was attacked by Palestinians in Jerusalem's Old City
    Copyright: Reuters

    During June and July 2015, there were 580 violent incidents that targeted Israeli civilians and security forces. Most of them (477) involved Palestinians throwing stones at vehicles; 28 involved Molotov cocktails.

    Some recent attacks in the Jerusalem area:

    • On September 3, 2015, a vehicle broke through the police checkpoint at the entrance to the village of Azaria in east Jerusalem and drove directly at the policemen manning the site.
    • On August 30, 2015, Palestinians threw stones at the Jerusalem light railway in the Shuafat area.
    • On August 28, 2015, Palestinians threw stones at an Israeli vehicle on Route 443 (linking Jerusalem and Modi'in).
    • On August 26, 2015, masked Palestinians threw stones and Molotov cocktails at a Border Police force in the A-Tor neighborhood of Jerusalem, setting one of the their vehicles on fire.
    • On August 23, 2015, Palestinians threw stones at Israeli vehicles near a gas station on Route 443. There were no casualties; cars were damaged.
    • On August 23, 2015, Palestinians threw dozens of Molotov cocktails at Israeli police and Border Police forces in the village of Issawiya (east Jerusalem). There were no casualties.
    • On August 21, 2015, Palestinians threw stones and Molotov cocktails at Israeli vehicles near a gas station on Route 443. There were no casualties.
    • On August 20, 2015, Palestinians threw stones at the light railway in the Shuafat neighborhood of east Jerusalem. There were no casualties; the railway was damaged.
    • On August 19, 2015, Palestinians threw stones at two vehicles on Route 45 near Jerusalem, between the Atarot Junction and the Benzion Netanyahu Exchange. A baby girl one year and ten months old and her father were injured; their vehicle was damaged.
    • On August 17, 2015, Palestinians threw stones at Jerusalem's light railway at Shuafat. There were no casualties. A railway car was damaged.
    • On the morning of August 15, 2015, a Palestinian stabbed an IDF soldier stationed at a roadblock on Route 443. Arriving at the roadblock, the Palestinian asked a soldier for water. Before the soldier could bring water to him the Palestinian stabbed him with a sharp instrument.