Police arrested two more Palestinian youths, from the east Jerusalem village of
Zur Baher, who are suspected in the rock-throwing attack that left a two-year-old
Jewish infant wounded in the neighborhood of Armon Hanatziv last week, Israel
Radio reported on Wednesday.
The arrests bring the total number of
Palestinians allegedly involved in the attack, who are currently in police
custody, to seven, according to Israel Radio.
According to police, the
other five suspects who were arrested on Monday admitted to throwing stones at
the vehicle carrying the toddler and reenacted the incident.
The suspects
told investigators that they were motivated by hatred of Jews, according to
Israeli media reports.
The girl, Abigail Ben-Zion, remains hospitalized
in stable condition at Hadassah University Medical Center in Jerusalem’s Ein
Kerem.
She was moderately wounded Thursday night, allegedly by
Palestinian teenagers, when a large rock hit the vehicle she was traveling in
with her parents and two brothers in the Armon Hanatziv neighborhood.
It
shattered the rear window adjacent to her seat, striking the right side of her
head.
Following the attack Magen David Adom paramedics treated the girl,
rendered semiconscious, at the scene and transported her to the hospital in
moderate condition.
Earlier this week, Armon Hanatziv residents described
an ongoing climate of fear within their community, caused by the violence and
harassment perpetrated by Arab youths from the surrounding
villages.
Although designated an “up-and-coming neighborhood for young
people” by Mayor Nir Barkat, residents said the southern Jerusalem community is
riddled with trouble-making Arab teens living in the surrounding Palestinian
neighborhoods, including Zur Baher.
Pointing to what they deem a nominal
police presence, several young parents expressed exacerbated anger over the
situation.
Gil Schecter, who has lived there since the mid-70’s, said
although residents of the community have worked to engender peaceful coexistence
with their Arab neighbors, a disproportionate number of youths continue to wreak
havoc on women and children there.
“More and more young guys have moved
into these neighborhoods over the years, and they come here like they own the
place,” said Schecter.
“Their parents are peaceful and busy working all
day, but they do nothing to stop these kids.”
Daniel K. Eisenbud
contributed to this report.