Shin Bet: Change law to prevent attacks by east J'lem Arabs

Since beginning of year close to 250 east J'lem Arabs arrested for terror-related offenses.

By YAAKOV KATZ
tractor image 298 88 (photo credit: Sarah Levin)
tractor image 298 88
(photo credit: Sarah Levin)
In face of a growing terror threat originating in east Jerusalem, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) has recommended legislative changes to permit financial sanctions on the families of terrorists as well as the indictment of suspects caught in the early stages of planning attacks. The recommendations were revealed on Wednesday by senior Shin Bet officials. Since the beginning of the year, the agency said, close to 250 east Jerusalem Arabs had been arrested for terror-related offenses, compared to 37 in 2007 and just nine in 2005. The recent incidents includes two bulldozer attacks, which killed three Israelis, and the car that rammed into a group of soldiers late Monday night near the Old City. The Shin Bet said Wednesday that it was in favor of demolishing the homes of terrorists as well as imposing financial sanctions on their families, for example canceling National Insurance Institute benefits. In addition, the Shin Bet is also calling for an increase in the number of border policemen who patrol neighborhoods such as the Shuafat refugee camp, Jebl Mukaber and Sur Bahir. "These recommendations will have a long-term effect on people and will likely contribute to deterring others from perpetrating attacks in the future," a senior security official said. Also on Wednesday, the Shin Bet released for publication that, together with Jerusalem police, it had arrested seven members of an east Jerusalem terror cell that was allegedly behind two shooting attacks in which two policemen were killed and two were wounded. The Shin Bet officials said that while it was not possible to completely stop attackers operating on their own, it was possible to deter future attacks. One problem, the officials said, was the lack of a police or municipal presence in the east Jerusalem areas, which created a vacuum that was being filled by terrorist or criminal elements. Discussing Sur Bahir, Jebl Mukaber, the Shuafat refugee camp and Isawiya, the officials said there had also been an increase recently in the level of religious activity in east Jerusalem. "There is a vacuum in these areas around Jerusalem, and violent and terrorist elements have moved inside," the officials said. "There is no effective enforcement of law and order in these areas, from tax collection to police investigative work."