For Etti Cohen and members of her family, their trip to the Kosel was not supposed to place them in perilous danger but this is exactly what resulted when they mistakenly entered the Wadi Joz area of the eastern capital.

The attack occurred on Thursday, 11 Elul, as they were planning to attend an IDF swearing-in ceremony at the Kosel. They unfortunately took a wrong turn and found themselves in life-threatening danger, under attack by blood-thirsty Arabs.

Etti explained that three vehicles traveling in front of theirs stopped and they were blocked, an easy target for community terrorists. Rocks flew in every direction and the vehicle’s windows were quickly blown out. One rock hit the headrest of a family friend seated in the rear of the vehicle.

Etti questions how police can permit this in the capital of the nation. Of late there has been a sharp increase in attacks against Jewish motorists, pedestrians and the Jerusalem light rail carried out by local Arabs. Last week, during a visit to the problematic areas by members of the Knesset Interior Committee, committee chair MK Miri Regev reportedly called Jerusalem Police Chief Yosef Pariente “a coward” for failing to meet the terrorists head-on to restore order and stop the attacks.

In a clarification to the media Regev later denied the remark, reprimanding the media listening in to a private conversation with a high-ranking police official that was not open to the media.

Last week Minister of Public Security Yitzchak Aharonovich visited the same areas, acknowledging the increase in violence. The minister promised that police are in control and that the attacks would not be tolerated. The minister sent a clear message of reassurance to citizens, that Israel Police is in control and the violence will be halted.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)