In Judea and Samaria (Yesha), as well as the rest of Israel, the sound of celebratory gunfire from an Arab village is not uncommon. Such gunfire often accompanies weddings and other festive occasions in Arab communities throughout the region.
However, Jews in Judea and Samaria have discovered that such “festive” gunfire can pose a very real threat. The Jewish residents of these areas say the risks are being ignored by military and police officials who prefer to avoid possible friction with Arab villagers.
Menachem, who lives in a Jewish community near Ramallah, reports that a bullet pierced the roof of the caravan in which he lives with his wife. The projectile nearly hit their dining room table.
Menachem and his wife were not in their home at the time, and realized what had happened only the next day. Police came to investigate, he says, but told him, “There's nothing to do, these things happen.”
If Jews had fired guns for any reason and hit a nearby Arab home, the police response would have been different, Menachem believes.
A similar incident took place in the Jewish community of Beit El, north of Jerusalem. There, a bullet pierced a local caravan and nearly hit a baby girl.
The girl's father, Yisrael, recalls that a bullet hit his neighbor's house as well. The family heard the gunfire, but only realized the next morning how close the fire had come to causing a tragedy.
Security forces were informed of the incident, but chose not to respond, he says.