The southeastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Armon HaNatziv remains in the news as residents are under attack from Arabs in nearby neighborhoods including Jabil Mukhaber. The epicenter of Arab attacks is focused on Meir Nakar Street which border Jabil Mukhaber. Another street under fire is Eliyahu HaKim, a small street that is near the border too.

Until last year, the promenade in Armon HaNatziv was a popular area for visitors and for people to host events. In recent months there have been at least four attacks against Jews perpetrated by youths from Jabil Mukhaber. Since the attacks, the promenade is no longer a popular venue.

Arnona:

Asher Viner Street was more or less unknown to most Jerusalemites until the Rosh Hashanah murder of Alexander Levlovitz HY”D in a rock-throwing attack. The city has invested at least NIS 5 million to pave the road in an effort to cut the driving distance between Kibbutz Ramat Rachel and the city center. Security authorities believe the rock that killed Levlovitz came from nearby Tzur Baher, a neighborhood that has remained quiet in recent months, but perhaps this has changed.

French Hill:

The Arab neighborhood of Issawiya borders the Jewish French Hill neighborhood. Issawiya is a constant venue of confrontations between security forces and Arab residents in addition to the source of firebomb and rock attacks against Israeli motorists traveling on the Jerusalem-Maale Adumim Highway.

Eli Rosenfeld, who heads the French Hill minhelet, or local government, told MyNet that the rock-throwing has renewed, coinciding with the opening of the school year. The streets that border the Arab neighborhood are most frequently the problematic ones including Lochamei Geta’ot Street and Yitzchak HaNadiv, which connects to the Mt. Scopus Tunnel in the direction of the Dead Sea and is often the site of rock attacks.

Abu Tor:

This neighborhood has been in the news quite a bit in the past year due to the frequency of rock attacks. At least four vehicles have been targeted in arson attacks on HaMifaked Street which borders the Arab area. Naomi Street which runs in both the Jewish and Arab areas was in the past a symbol of dual existence but this too appears to have changed.

Har HaZeisim:

The cemetery and Shmuel Ben-Adya Street in the direction of Har HaZeisim have become areas of frequent attacks including rocks, cinderblocks and other objects. The unwanted reality in this areas has made it very difficult and dangerous for people to visit kevarim in Har HaZeisim.

Police have promised to step up its presence, security cameras have been installed and other measures have reportedly been taken but the violence continues.

Pisgat Ze’ev:

The road leading to Givat Ze’ev has become a worrisome one for motorists. Uzi Narkiss Blvd., a major vehicular route, has become the venue of frequent attacks against Israeli motorists. Motorists who drive via Uzi Narkiss Hussan which goes via Beit Haninah are frequently hit with rocks, firebombs and bags of garbage from Shuafat. Items are hurled from apartment windows, in many cases illegal structures but city officials turn a blind eye.

The Jerusalem light raid is targeted almost daily from Shuafat as well.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)