Rocks, molotov cocktails hurled at minister’s vehicle while touring Abu Dis

Gilad Erdan’s office confirms he was in vehicle; says incident highlights need to strengthen security in West Bank area

By ToI Staff 27 December 2017, 11:51 pm Edit

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan's vehicle, which was stoned in the Palestinian town of Abu Dis on December 25, 2017. (Courtesy)

Stones and molotov cocktails were thrown at Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan’s vehicle as he toured the West Bank Palestinian town of Abu Dis with police on Monday.

Erdan was in the car at the time of the attack, Channel 10 reported.

Confirming the incident in a Wednesday statement, the minister’s office said that “the stone throwing from the Islamic University of Abu Dis simply further demonstrates the need to strengthen security in the area and increase aggressive activity against the terrorists.”

The statement added that the tour of Abu Dis was carried out using armored vehicles and that the stones were thrown from an unidentified location from the other side of the security barrier, which straddles the town.

Abu Dis is adjacent to East Jerusalem, but is not part of the Jerusalem municipality.

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan attends a committee meeting at the Knesset, November 14, 2017. (Flash90)