Israel Weighs New Measures to Quell Arab Unrest in Jerusalem: One New Measure Not Under Consideration — Not Stealing Land and Killing Palestinians

By Calev Ben-David
Israel’s prime minister ordered officials to speed up legislation designed to quash months of violence in Jerusalem’s Arab neighborhoods, including punishing the parents of minors who take part in disturbances.

Jerusalem has become a flashpoint for tensions between Israelis and Palestinians since the collapse of U.S.-backed peace talks in April, and the conflict in July and August between Israel and militants in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. The city lies at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with Palestinians claiming its eastern sector, captured by Israel in 1967, as capital of a future state.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened top security and justice officials today to discuss how to quell the unrest, according to a text message from his office. Possible steps include tougher penalties for stone-throwing and financial penalties for the parents of minors involved, it said.

Arab residents have clashed with police on a near-daily basis in recent months, and have hurled stones and firebombs at vehicles driven by Jewish residents. They’ve also vandalized the city’s light-rail system repeatedly, causing passenger numbers to plummet. Additional security forces have been deployed to quell the unrest, which Netanyahu blames on Islamic extremists.

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About 300,000 Palestinians live in east Jerusalem, which Israel seized from Jordan along with the West Bank in 1967. Netanyahu has said that Israel, which annexed east Jerusalem in a move that isn’t internationally recognized, won’t share sovereignty over the city with the Palestinians.

Israel’s construction of housing for Jews in those areas is a major source of friction between the sides. An Israeli official said today the government has decided to advance plans to build about 1,000 new homes in Jewish areas of east Jerusalem.

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