Police dismantle east Jerusalem ‘martyr memorial’ for terrorists

By DANIEL K. EISENBUD
Updated: APRIL 7, 2016 04:45
Border Police man the area separating the east Jerusalem neighborhoods of Armon Hanatziv and Jebl Mukaber (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
Border Police man the area separating the east Jerusalem neighborhoods of Armon Hanatziv and Jebl Mukaber
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
A makeshift “martyr memorial” in east Jerusalem’s Ras al-Amud neighborhood, honoring 47 Palestinian terrorists killed in attacks against Jews and security personnel in the capital over the past six months, was promptly taken down by police on Tuesday afternoon.
According to police, several unknown Arab individuals from the community illegally cleared the unidentified public garden and planted 47 trees for each of the terrorists, and then affixed portraits of each of them to the trees.
“Some suspects from inside the neighborhood cleared an area and planted the trees in support of each of the terrorists killed while carrying out attacks in Jerusalem,” police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said on Wednesday.
“Police, in coordination with the Jerusalem Municipality, entered the neighborhood and removed the pictures and trees.”
No arrests or incidents of violence took place when police dismantled the garden, Rosenfeld said, adding that an investigation has been opened to determine those responsible for honoring the terrorists.
“This is an act that glorifies perpetrators of murder and terrorism, and encourages further violence and acts of terrorism,” police said in a statement.
Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan denounced the memorial, vowed to prosecute those who built it, and emphasized police and security forces “will continue to act decisively against any show of support or incitement to terror anywhere in the country.”
Indeed, Rosenfeld said police will continue to show zero tolerance for any celebration of Palestinian murderers and attempted murders.
“Police will continue to closely monitor any unusual activities in Arab neighborhoods during this sensitive period when the Israeli Police is focused on preventing and responding to terrorist attacks that could take place,” he said.
He added that the suspects responsible for the memorial will be charged with incitement and affiliation with terrorists.
Since mid-September, 34 Israelis have been killed in attacks by Palestinians. During this period, there have been 211 stabbings, 83 shootings, and 42 vehicular attacks, according to the Foreign Ministry’s website.
Roughly 200 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli security forces over the same period, 130 of whom were said by Israel to have been conducting an attack at the time of their death.
The remaining 70 people died in clashes with Israeli security forces or with Jewish residents living in the West Bank.