Amid E. Jerusalem riots, mayor demands firmer action against illegal building
Barkat’s call for more robust police enforcement would likely result in more home demolitions
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Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat’s office on Wednesday brushed aside criticism of his call for firmer measures against illegal homes in East Jerusalem, which would likely result in more demolitions, in response to near-daily rioting by Palestinian residents.
Barkat instructed law enforcement officials to increase enforcement against illegal homes in East Jerusalem at a meeting with city officials Tuesday. Other proposals for punitive punishment against rioters included confiscating livestock, closing unlicensed businesses and issuing more parking tickets for offenses not currently enforced.
“The request not to enforce the law against criminals is puzzling and belongs in a banana republic, not a sovereign state,” the mayor’s office said in a statement. “Lawlessness certainly won’t bring peace, but rather a worse situation.”
Some officials protested that the measures would further alienate the Palestinian population and fan the flames, according to Israel daily Haaretz.
Senior Barkat media adviser Brachie Sprung said that taking action against illegal building has consistently been a directive of the mayor’s and that increased enforcement of the policy was a result of having a larger police presence in East Jerusalem to combat recent rioting.
The meeting came just a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed lawmakers to advance legislation to stiffen punishments for stone-throwing rioters.
Clashes between Palestinians and security forces continued Tuesday as rioters threw Molotov cocktails and stones at police as well as cars and buses passing through in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Issawiya. Two 16-year-old demonstrators were arrested during the riots, Israel Radio reported. In Shuafat, protesters pelted the city’s light rail system with rocks and firecrackers, causing heavy damage to the windshield of a train car.
In the West Bank on Tuesday IDF soldiers opened fire at a group of Palestinians who had hurled stones at passing vehicles near the West Bank city of Jenin, injuring four, according to reports. The troops, who followed the perpetrators of the attacks into the small village of Yabed, were showered with rocks and firecrackers upon entering the village, and responded by firing at the group.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.