Arabs set fire to Jewish home in Sheikh Jarrah, rioters clash with police

Terrorists threw Molotov cocktails at the home of Tal Yoshubiev at Shimon Hatzadik neighborhood on Friday night. 

By Aryeh Savir, TPS

Arab arsonists set fire to a Jewish home in the neighborhood of Shimon Hatzadik, aka Sheikh Jarrah, in eastern Jerusalem on Friday night and rioters clashed with police on Saturday night in the latest attempt to oust the Jewish residents from the area.

Terrorists threw Molotov cocktails at the home of Tal Yoshubiev at Shimon Hatzadik neighborhood on Friday night at around 10:30 p.m. A fire broke out at the scene, but there were no casualties as the Yoshubiev family was not at home on Saturday.

The Yoshubiev family has suffered from repeated harassment on the part of the Arab residents of the neighborhood, who have burned his vehicle nine times. His house is located a few hundred meters away from the national headquarters of the Israel Police, and about 200 meters from a Border Police base.

Yoshubiev said at the end of Shabbat that “the fire ignited over the bed of my two-year-old baby and completely burned the entire area. I do not want to imagine what would have happened if we were at home on Shabbat – it could have ended in disaster.”

He added that “those who bear responsibility for the shedding of the blood of innocent Jews – are the Israeli government and the police, who do nothing to catch the terrorists. If it was an Arab’s house, the Shin Bet would have long ago joined the event. But when it comes to Jews, the security forces simply abandon us.”

Police had arrested several suspects in previous arson attacks on his car.

According to a police statement, “following preliminary findings that raised suspicion of arson,” Jerusalem District Commander Doron Yedid held a situation assessment at the end of which he decided to significantly increase overt and covert police activity in the area.

“In addition, he directed to involve Special Forces in the activity, as well as to investigate the case thoroughly and with all the necessary means, in order to arrive at an investigation of the truth and to bring to justice those involved in the serious act,” the police stated.

Member of Knesset Itamar Ben Gvir, who opened a parliamentary chamber in the Shimon Hatzadik neighborhood due to repeated harassment of Jews in May, decided to return to the neighborhood “in order to restore security to the residents.”

“If the residents do not receive protection from the police, I will protect them. Tomorrow I will open a parliamentary chamber in the Shimon Hatzadik neighborhood until security returns to the Shimon Hatzadik neighborhood and the police establish permanent security,” he announced on Saturday night.

Later in the evening, Arab rioters threw rocks at Jews and clashed with police forces.

During the violence, an Arab rammed his car into a Jewish man, moderately injuring him. The driver, who initially fled the scene and then turned himself in, claimed he was spray-peppered and lost control of the car. The police ruled out terrorism and launched an investigation.

Five rioters were arrested by the police. Two Jews and one Arab were injured in the clashes.

The Shimon Hatzadik neighborhood has been the scene of multiple Arab attacks against the Jewish residents, whom they want to leave the area.

On December 8, an Israeli mother who was walking in the streets of the Shimon Hatzadik neighborhood with her three small children was stabbed and wounded by an Arab terrorist.

The mother, Moriah Cohen, in her mid-20s, was evacuated in light condition to a hospital in Jerusalem was the 12-inch knife still stuck in her body. The terrorist fled the scene, and the police launched a manhunt for her and tracked her down to a nearby girl’s school. Massive forces entered the compound and arrested the suspect.

Arab riotsArab violenceItamar Ben-GvirJerusalem terrorSheikh Jarrah