MK and reservist colonel Motti Yogev (Jewish Home) toured the embattled neighborhoods of Shiloach/Silwan and Shuafat in eastern Jerusalem Tuesday, and suggested that the military be deployed to deal with Arab violence there.
At Shiloach's Yemenite Village, Yogev visited houses recently bought by Jews and said that “the Arab neighbors made us feel welcome and some even openly express their support [for Jewish entry into homes] and expect that as Jews enter the neighborhood, the municipality will also improve infrastructures.”
"On the other hand,” he added, “the firing of fireworks, and the hurling of firebombs and rocks must stop.”
Yogev then toured the hostile neighborhood of Shuafat, under heavy security, and even took a short ride on the Light Rail, in order to better appreciate the risk that residents of Pisgat Ze'ev and Neveh Yaakov undertake daily when they ride the Rail.
“We have never experienced this many events,” Eli Gorodotzer, a resident of Beit Hashiva in Beit Hanina, told Yogev. “There were many events of firebombs and rocks thrown at homes, and attempts to cause harm to life and property. We have been living here in good neighborly relations with the surroundings, but lately the situation has become unbearable. As citizens of the country we demand that the authorities supply us with the security so we can continue to live our lives,” he added.
Yogev, a former commander of elite IDF unit Maglan, said that the Jerusalem Police needs to be reinforced with “special and high-quality police and Border Police forces who know how to handle the full range of events.”
"If the police do not have enough special forces,” he added, “it will be very helpful if the Arab marauders in Jerusalem are reminded of the red berets of the Paratroopers.”
He noted, however, that the efforts invested in arresting the rioters lose their effectiveness when the court system employs a “revolving door policy” and releases suspects soon after their arrest.
Arab extremists have engaged in a campaign of violence over the past few months, targeting Jewish residents and Israeli security forces alike, in what locals have dubbed a "silent intifada."
Responding to pressure for the police force to do more, Police Chief Yohanan Danino yesterday announced the formation of a new special police task force to deal with the violence.