Israeli troops began encircling and blocking Arab neighborhoods Sunday to calm down the series of stabbings of Israelis, in which most of the suspects are residents of East Jerusalem, as a corrective measure to the violence that has been going on for weeks now. Five-meter-tall concrete cubes were placed to block the roads between the neighborhoods of Armon Hanatziv and the adjacent Arab area of Jabal Mukaber to serve as shields against stones and firebombs frequently used in past violent cases. Additionally, inspections are being done on those leaving the area — people are being asked to lift their shirts up to ensure they are not carrying any deadly weapons, such as knives.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, confirmed that the measure is temporary, as this is what his advisers said any police department would do in violent situations such as what is happening in Israel.
"Israel has no interest in creating divisions in Jerusalem. [Israel] has a right to use the same security measures which every other city facing urban rioting has used," said Dore Gold, senior Netanyahu adviser, according to ABC News.
Arab residents, however, consider this step a form of discrimination and are only igniting the fire of more violence.
"They want to humiliate us," said Taher Obeid, a 26-year-old Hebrew University of Jerusalem janitor.
"The great patriots... who don't go to bed at night before praying for a unified, undivided, greater Jerusalem, are now proposing to dissect it, divide it and return it back 48 years in time," wrote Nehemiah Strassler, a commentator in the Israeli daily Haaretz, according to the Associated Press.
Tensions have also been ignited by the frustrations of the Palestinians brought about by the possible partition of the land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean. They believe their entire path to independence is being blocked.
Fifteen Israelis and 36 Palestinians have now been killed with in this series of violence.
Friday, hundreds joined the protest that Palestinians called "the day of rage." Israeli troops fired and killed three Palestinians. The latter then walked to an Israeli military post and threw stones at them.
"They were very angry and wanted to attack the soldiers," said Munadil Hanani, a protest organizer in Beit Furik.
"This intifada [uprising] will continue in various forms. People are fed up," added Hanani, according to the Arab News.
