About 300 residents of Pisgat Ze'ev East neighborhood demonstrated Sunday evening in front of the separation fence between the neighborhood and Shuafat refugee camp. This follows a significant escalation in riots directed against fenced houses in the neighborhood in recent days, which peaked yesterday.
Night riots in Shuafat | Eden Gershon
For security reasons, the demonstration took place at a location farther from the Separation Barrier. But on a number of streets, such as Eliyahu Meridor Street, the separation fence is only dozens of meters from their homes, and families living there report living in fear, which has escalated since the beginning of the Iron Swords War.
Pisgat Ze'ev residents demonstration,
Last night, the muezzin in the camp called for hours on young people to come out and take revenge on the Jews for the war in Gaza. As a result, youths threw Molotov cocktails, fired fireworks directly at homes and shouted slogans on the fence to murder Jews. Border Police forces fired teargas at the rioters, which also entered the homes of residents on Meridor Street in large quantities. The commotion in the camp continued for many hours, until a large force entered.
Fireworks are fired in Shuafat, Photo: Reuters
In recent days, camp residents have climbed the Separation Barrier several times, and even erected a makeshift structure nearby from which they threw Molotov cocktails and fireworks, causing small fires. In recent years, these fires have often threatened residents' homes.
The Shuafat refugee camp is considered one of the most hostile places in Jerusalem, and in the entire region – quite a few terrorists have carried out deadly attacks from it in recent years. The police usually enter the camp only in large forces, in specific operations that require preparation in a large order. It is believed that there are large quantities of firearms in the camp, and shots are heard daily.
"The concept of containment that led to the terrible disaster in the communities near the Gaza Strip continues to exist here as well, adjacent to our neighborhood," the neighborhood's campaign headquarters said. "The Shuafat refugee camp, which numbers over 70,2 people, has been harassing us for years with shootings, fireworks, screams from mosques, setting fires and attempts to cross the fence. We have been accustomed to containing it. In recent days, a tall building was built near the fence as an observation post, and events escalated. Wolf's Peak will not be Bari <>. A small Gaza has sprung up next to us, and the security forces must eliminate its capabilities. We will not be silent anymore."
The Jerusalem Police said: "In recent days, Jerusalem District police officers and Border Police fighters from the Jerusalem envelope continue to deal with specific disturbances of public order in the area of the security fence of M.P. Shuafat and Anata, near the Pisgat Ze'ev neighborhood. The police activity at the site includes the use of a variety of measures against suspects who climb the security fence and throw objects, stones and Molotov cocktails at the security forces operating in reinforced forces in an area near the Pisgat Ze'ev neighborhood. Alongside a determined and open response to any disturbance in the area and reinforcement of the forces operating there, proactive police activity, covert and offensive, is also being carried out against these suspects combined with various special measures.
Senior Jerusalem Police officials patrol near the fence in Pisgat Ze'ev, Photo: Israel Police Spokesperson's Office
"In recent days, activity has been carried out against these rioters and injuries were identified against a number of suspects who climbed the security fence and threw stones and Molotov cocktails at the security forces.
"Last week, Jerusalem District Commander Maj. Gen. Doron Turgeman conducted a field patrol at the site together with the Jerusalem Envelope Border Police Command, the commander of the Shaft Station and other officers. At its conclusion, the district commander instructed operative actions to be taken on a number of work routes, to deal determinedly and uncompromisingly with those rioters and lawbreakers.
"This morning, infrastructure work began with engineering tools in the security fence to lower the ground features from the direction of M.P. Shuafat. The work is carried out with the escort and security of the Border Police forces near Jerusalem, under the command of Tantz Area Commander Ami Nidam, and are part of the measures to prevent and thwart these disturbances and will continue as long as necessary. At the same time, we will examine with the various authorities the promotion of demolitions of illegal construction in the area of the security fence."
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