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March 17, 2008
Surprise Surprise Surprise
An update to Upheaval:
Police: We were surprised by intensity of rightists' riots
The Jerusalem Police on Sunday failed to prevent hundreds of extreme right-wing activists from arriving at the east Jerusalem neighborhood of Jabel Mukaber and hurling stones at its residents, despite repeated threats to by rightists to avenge the murder of eight yeshiva students in Jerusalem 10 days ago and destroy the terrorist's home.
"We were surprised by the intensity of the riots," a senior police official admitted.
Hundreds of extreme right-wing activists break through police barriers, enter east Jerusalem neighborhood of Jabel Mukaber in bid to destroy house of terrorist who killed eight yeshiva students in Jerusalem. Two policemen lightly hurt in clashes; 22 people arrested.
A senior police official told Ynet,"There was marked violence towards police personnel and local residents, and protestors stormed their way into the village using stones, fire crackers and anything else they could get their hands on."
Large police forces were deployed at Jerusalem's Armon Hanatziv promenade in a bid to block the protestors and prevent them from reaching the Arab neighborhood.
'We outflanked police and descended to the village'
According to the demonstration organizers, some 200 right-wing activists gathered at the Armon Hanatziv promenade, located above the Jabel Mukaber neighborhood in the afternoon hours, where they were faced by about 100 police officers.
The rightists, who were unimpressed by the police forces' presence, turned to a banquet hall opposite the hill and outflanked the police forces from the left, arriving at the neighborhood's first houses within minutes.
According to the protestors, the police paid attention to what was happening only after a few minutes, and forces were sent to chase the activists.
"We descended to the village from around the UN building and threw stones at the homes of the Arabs, who shouted at us. Some tried to hurl stones, but most of them stayed at home," one of the organizers told Ynet.
Shortly afterwards, violent clashes erupted between the police and the rioters. When the activists began hurling stones at the neighborhood's homes, police forces began separating between the houses and the demonstrators. The rightists claimed that the police officers used excessive force.
"The Arabs of Israel and Jerusalem must understand that the Jews have stopped being suckers. If they identify with Hamas and Hizbullah, they will pay a price for it," one of the right-wing activists said.
According to Baruch Marzel, "What happened was unexpected. There is a limit to our tolerance and restraint. The police must know that there is a price for the fact that they are not demolishing the terrorist's house. Apparently other people have to complete the job for this to happen."
Itamar Ben-Gvir told Ynet, "This is only the beginning. This is the opening shot for a much more complicated struggle against our enemies. We are fed up with the fact that Jewish blood is abandoned and that the prime minister doesn’t care. The rage is erupting and leads to the incidents and anger we saw at the village."
Rabbi Elyakim Levanon of the Elon Moreh yeshiva said, "We are not here to fight the police, but rather to demand that the enemies be dealt with."
and...
The rightists called for revenge, and one of them told Ynet, "We are fed up with keeping silent. Jewish blood will not be abandoned. It's time to stop the defamation of God and this disgrace. We are going to destroy the terrorist's house."
Right-wing activist Itamar Ben-Gvir said, "The Israeli government and the Israel Police are responsible for what is happening in Jabel Mukaber."
"This is the beginning of our war on the fifth column. We shall not let them live amongst us," said one of the demonstrators, Nadia Matar of the Women in Green organization.
In the absence of any effective government, it is the people who must show the way.
UPDATE: Videos here.
Posted by LindaSoG at March 17, 2008 06:53 AM
Comments
It's about time. The example they set should help open the eyes of their own government and eyes around the world to this ridiculous situation of endless battery by the muzzies. I'd like to see this happen here the next time we get hit.
Posted by: gregor at March 17, 2008 12:24 PM
Part of me says that I wish they hadn't, they won't win any friends this way....
The other part notices that they can't get ANY friends anyhow, and perhaps this sort of non-government action will work.
I'm just waiting for the convolutions folks will have to go through to blame Israel for these folks, but give the Palis a pass for their non-gov't-actors.
Posted by: Foxfier at March 17, 2008 04:29 PM
Thanks for the update, Linda.
Posted by: Kevin K. at March 19, 2008 06:21 AM