One only has to view the photos of a recent home demolition in the Shuafat refugee camp to understand the dangers posed to security forces from this Jerusalem locale. Residents of northern Jerusalem neighborhoods including Pisgat Ze’ev and N’vei Yaakov have been subjected to the harassment and outright terrorism originating in Shuafat, but authorities rarely respond. The attacks vary from rocks hurled at the Jerusalem light rail to random gunfire into the northern Jewish communities but the reality is, an army is required to enter Shuafat to deal with the problem and this rarely occurs. While the residents of Shuafat hold Israeli identity cards, they are autonomous since rarely will city officials dare to enter.

In a relatively new form of terror aimed at Jerusalem residents, residents of Shuafat direct green lasers into the homes of Pisgat Ze’ev residents. Unable to prevent the laser attacks and amid the realization police are powerless, the Jewish residents have decided to fight back, with powerful music.

Residents targeted with the lasers are placing stereo speakers at their windows and on balconies and playing Sephardi tunes at the loudest possible volume, directing the music at Shuafat. Pisgat Ze’ev residents told MyNet this is not only a response to the laser harassment, but also a response to the high volume of the mosque speakers.

The residents of Pisgat Ze’ev suffer since authorities do not enter Shuafat with rare exception, and the 40,000 plus residents are well-aware they can do as they wish. Recently, the sewer lines in Shuafat backed up to the point Pisgat Ze’ev residents received the sewage backup. For the Gihon Water Company to repair the problem required a major police escort. This generally means the sewer line will not be addressed for a number of days. In the interim, residents of a number of streets had to endure the smell of raw sewage for a number of days.

Pisgat Ze’ev residents are concerned for they understand authorities are not responding and their Arab neighbors will continue finding new way to harass and attack them. MyNet quotes one parents of Pisgat Ze’ev explaining families no longer permit their children to play outdoors, fearing wild gunfire. They fear sitting on balconies for the same reason.

Heads of the minhelet or neighborhood government are calling on security agencies to restore the lost feeling of security to residents by taking action.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)