East Jerusalem land dispute turns into full-scale neighborhood riot

Over 80 residents of A-Tur representing opposing families clash in streets, resulting in 4 injuries, 8 arrests and attack on police.

By DANIEL K. EISENBUD
east Jerusalem 370 (photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)
east Jerusalem 370
(photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)
A neighborhood quarrel over property ownership turned into a full-scale riot in east Jerusalem Monday night, resulting in four injuries, eight arrests and significant damage to two police cruisers.
According to Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld, the dispute began when two families living in A-Tur claimed they owned the same property.
The argument then escalated into violence when some 80 members of the community representing the opposing sides took to the streets with metal pipes, knives and rocks to settle the conflict, he said.
During the riot, one man was stabbed in the abdomen and three others required hospitalization due to injuries sustained from pipes and rocks.
Upon arriving at the scene, Border and local Police officers were also accosted, Rosenfeld said on Tuesday.
“Two police cruisers were seriously damaged by rocks, including a shattered windshield and windows,” he said.
“Backup units were called in and eight arrests were made after police dispersed the rioters with stun grenades and teargas.”
Rosenfeld said the stab victim was rushed by ambulance to Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center, where he has been listed under moderate condition.
The three other victims were treated and released from the hospital.
Asked if police have responded to similar episodes of violence in A-Tur, Rosenfeld said “the scale and size of this was much bigger than usual.”