Three Border Police companies will be mobilized to operate in east Jerusalem due to the uptick in violence there, the political echelon decided on Tuesday.
The Prime Minister’s Office and the Jerusalem Municipality also agreed on Tuesday to a plan to improve personal security in the city. As part of the plan, 300 bus stations in the capital will be fortified, with a dedicated budget for the fortification provided by the Prime Minister’s Office.
The next step of the plan will include the fortification of the rest of the bus stations in the city, which will receive another dedicated budget from the Prime Minister’s Office.
The plan also includes steps to reinforce security forces in the city and focusing intelligence and operative efforts in the area.
"In light of the series of difficult events, in the country and in the capital in particular, the government under my leadership is working night and day to restore the sense of security to the citizens of the State of Israel."
Benjamin Netanyahu
“In light of the series of difficult events, in the country and in the capital in particular, the government under my leadership is working night and day to restore the sense of security to the citizens of the State of Israel,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion thanked Netanyahu for his “quick mobilization and finding an immediate solution for the personal safety of the residents of Jerusalem. The work to fortify the stations in the city will begin immediately.”
The decision came a day after Border Police officer Asil Suaed was murdered in a stabbing attack near the checkpoint at the entrance to the Shuafat refugee camp, and a young Israeli was lightly injured in another stabbing attack in the Old City.
Suaed was buried on Tuesday afternoon in his hometown, the Bedouin village of Huseiniya in northern Israel. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai, Border Police Commander Amir Cohen, Israel Police Jerusalem District Commander Doron Turgeman and other police officials and officers took part in the funeral.
Ben-Gvir eulogized Suaed at the funeral, stating, “Asil stood up to terrorism without fear, and protected the citizens of Jerusalem with his body. Asil did not hesitate for a moment and carried out the values he received from his dear and beloved family.
“When you know the family, the father, the mother, when you read history, learn about the brothers, some of whom serve in Israel Police and the Fire and Rescue Services, you understand where this heroism comes from and where it grew from,” he added. “These vile murderers will not break us, will not break all the heroic policemen and soldiers we see here. These vile people will not prevent us from fighting so that our children, of all of us, will live here in the Land of Milk and Honey, with love, with joy, without terrorism, without illegal weapons, without hatred.
“We will not forget Asil, the sacrifice he made, and will fight forever against terrorism. We will embrace the family, we will embrace all our soldiers, we will embrace all the residents here. It is our duty to do this and to act for it as much as possible. May his memory be blessed.”
Shabtai also eulogized the officer, stating, “We gather here today at the cemetery as one bereaved family, in heavy grief and in the shared fate that envelops us all, with the passing of Asil Suaed.
“Yesterday, in a murderous terrorist attack by a criminal terrorist, the life of Asil, just 22 years old, was cut short. This difficult incident illustrates to all of us how difficult the job of a police officer is, the responsibility placed on his shoulders, and at what level of risk he is at, day by day, hour by hour.
“In recent years, a greater security burden has shifted to the shoulders of the Israel Police. The dedicated policemen are put to the test daily of determination and striving for contact, are stationed as a living wall and fortress at the points of friction, at the explosive points and at the roadblocks, fighting with valor and courage and unfortunately often even paying with their lives.”
Shabtai noted that more than 250 members of the Suaed tribe serve or have served in the police force.
Cohen stressed that “the human mosaic [of the Border Police] is multicultural. The population of the corps reflects all the nuances of Israeli society from all denominations, religions and beliefs. In the Border Police, we fight together shoulder-to-shoulder, adults alongside youth, immigrants alongside veterans, city dwellers alongside village dwellers. And Asil and his family are an exemplary symbol representing all the values we share: love of man and country, loyalty, dedication and shared destiny of all the people of this country.”
On Tuesday, the arrest of the two teenage terrorists who carried out the two attacks was extended by the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court until February 19.
The arrest of a Palestinian arrested on suspicion of trying to run over Border Police officers in the Shuafat refugee camp on Monday was extended as well until February 19.
The decision also came after an Israeli was lightly injured on Tuesday morning after being attacked by Palestinians after accidentally entering the city of Kalandiya.
Wave of terror strikes Jerusalem
On Monday, police arrested four individuals suspected of incitement and supporting terrorist organizations in the a-Tur and Isawiya neighborhoods of east Jerusalem, the Israel Police announced on Tuesday.
According to police, the four gave interviews on Sunday in support of Hamas and glorifying and praising the terrorist who murdered civilians in Neveh Ya’acov in late January. One of the suspects said during the interview that he wanted to be a “martyr,” and said he hoped for the death of the person interviewing him.
Three of the suspects were brought for a hearing to extend their detention on Tuesday, while one of the four was released under restrictive conditions.
On Monday evening, KAN published videos of interviews conducted near the Damascus Gate where two young Arabs told the interviewer, “We want Hamas and riots. To die as martyrs, that is what is most important.”
"We want Hamas and riots. To die as martyrs, that is what is most important."
Two young Arabs
The two youths added that the terrorist who murdered civilians in Neveh Ya’acov “frightened the Jews” and that “it would have been better if he would have killed more.” When the interviewer asked, “What if the [terrorist] had killed me?” the youths responded, “God willing.”