Police continue to set up checkpoints in volatile Arab Jerusalem neighborhoods

Mobile command center donated to municipality to help manage crisis.

By DANIEL K. EISENBUD
Updated: OCTOBER 20, 2015 12:58
POLICE GUARD a checkpoint set up in Abu Tor on Monday (photo credit: JERUSALEM POLICE)
POLICE GUARD a checkpoint set up in Abu Tor on Monday
(photo credit: JERUSALEM POLICE)
One day after police erected a temporary wall to stymie ongoing terrorist attacks from east Jerusalem’s Jebl Mukaber, several more checkpoints were added on Monday in flashpoint Arab neighborhoods in the capital.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said that apart from unrest in Silwan early Monday morning after a Palestinian family was forcefully removed from their home by Border Police, relative calm returned to the beleaguered capital.
He could not confirm reports of a curfew being imposed in Silwan.
“There were no major incidents that took place today,” Rosenfeld said Monday night.
“Police continue to intensely patrol Arab neighborhoods and have set up checkpoints at the entrances of Ras el-Amud and Abu Tor.”
 
In the meantime, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat announced on Monday that a state-of-the- art $375,000 mobile command center, donated by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein via the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, will be in operation in the near future.
According to Barkat, the mobile unit will assist police in emergency situations, and be utilized as a security hub for the many sports and cultural events that regularly take place in the city.
Barkat said the mobile unit features hi-tech specifications gleaned from Israel Police, Fire and Rescue Services and Magen David Adom’s emergency medical service teams’ mobile units.
“I would like to thank Rabbi Eckstein and the IFCJ’s hundreds of thousands of donors throughout the world, who steadfastly stand with Jerusalem in times of need, helping us protect Israel’s national and municipal home fronts,” the mayor said.
“During the current wave of violence that we are experiencing, the help is in the form of a mobile command center that will enable the city to provide real-time responses during emergencies and crisis situations when the speed and efficiency of the response is critical.”