Old City of Jerusalem. Photo: Hoy Asmeg.

Israelis living in Jerusalem’s Old City and tourists coming to visit the Holy Basin are the target of an increasing wave of violence perpetrated by Arabs, according to a report compiled by a civilian security company guarding the area and published by IDF Radio.

The report shows more violence in March then the three preceding months, with 157 nationalistically motivated attacks. 150 incidents were registered during February, 120 in January, and 140 in December. The lowest monthly number of attacks recorded in the past two and a half years is 80, which translates to almost three attacks a day.

The Israeli communities and neighborhoods in the Old City area are secured by civilian security companies contracted by the Ministry of Construction. These companies run a daily log of events, which depict a violent reality of often potentially deadly attacks including with fire bombs, IEDs, and firecrackers. Stone-throwing comprised 80% of the assaults, most of which ended with no injury.

Although the conflagrations are high in volume and pose a tremendous danger to the local residents the Knesset has paid little attention to the issue.

Tazpit News Agency also records such attacks on a daily basis.

On April 30th, Arabs threw stones at some 800 Israeli marchers who were participating in a monthly march around the Old City walls. That night, Arab rioters launched firecrackers at the Emet house in the Old City, confronting Border Policemen and lobbing bottles and stones at them. One cop was lightly wounded.

On April 23rd, Arabs threw stones at bus #65 on a main route in Jerusalem, right next to police national headquarters, injuring one of the passengers. The woman was transported to Hadassah Har Tzofim hospital. Several other passengers were treated for shock.