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Right-wing activists storming police barrier near E. Jerusalem village. (Emile Salman/Jini)
Last update - 18:31 17/03/2008
Top police officer slams police response to E. Jerusalem clash
By Nadav Shragai, Haaretz Correspondent and Reuters
Tags: Israel Police, Mercaz Harav 

A senior police officer on Monday criticized the police's response to clashes with right wing activists in the East Jerusalem Arab neighborhood of Jabal Mukaber on Sunday, saying that police forces were not properly prepared for the confrontation.

On Sunday, right wing activists tried to storm the house of a terrorist who killed 8 yeshiva students in Jerusalem earlier this month. The activists succeeded in circumventing police barriers and entering Jabal Mukaber, where they proceeded to hurl rocks at homes, smashing windows and damaging solar water heaters. A police officer sustained light injuries when hit by a stone during the melee.

Police forces arrested 22 activists and one of them was carrying a knife.
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Former Jerusalem district police commander Mickey Levy criticized the police force for failing to prevent the confrontation. He told Army Radio Monday that it is inconceivable that the police was taken by surprise with a demonstration that was advertised well in advance on posters across Jerusalem.

"The district police didn't need to be surprised. There was no need to collect intelligence ? it was right there in the palm of the hand. Appropriate preparation was called for in order to prevent the violent demonstration," Levy said in an interview.

In the aftermath of Sunday's violene, the police beefed up its presence in East Jerusalem Monday morning in anticipation of further clashes.

Police commander Amnon Alkalai, head of the Moriah sub-district, told Army Radio Monday morning that though the police had failed to prevent the entry of right wing extremists into the Arab village, he felt the police had not failed at their task. "We allowed them to demonstrate ? despite the fact that it was an illegal demonstration. I am always displeased when people and property are harmed, no matter who or why. There was serious unruliness and our officers were also hurt," he said.


Some 200 activists participated Sunday in the attempt to avenge the deaths of the eight victims of the Mercaz Harav yeshiva terror attack.

During a demonstration near the Armon Hanatziv promenade, right-wing groups called for the demolition of the house where the Palestinian terrorist's family lives. Hundreds of demonstrators marched towards the police blockage, holding signs and calling for revenge.

Rabbi Elyakim Levanon from the settlement of Elon Hamoreh spoke, demanding that the government carry out the demolition, as was done in the past to terrorist homes. Rightists interrupted his speech, yelling out that "the state won't do anything," and that they must carry out the demolition themselves.

Among the demonstrators were the Hirschfeld family, whose son was killed in the Mercaz Harav attack, Nadia Matar, one of the leaders of the right-wing organization Women in Green, and Baruch Marzel.

For footage from the riots, watch Haaretz.com TV

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      1.   So its ok to kill Palestinians everyday but when we strike back.. 20:18  |  MOE 16/03/08
      2.   They should have gone further 20:50  |  David ben Yaacov 16/03/08
      3.   I am with you my Brothers 21:10  |  Michael Ben raphael 16/03/08
      4.   To not expell terrorists` families is just another provocation 21:11  |  Action!!! 16/03/08
      5.   To not expell terrorists` families is just another provocation 21:29  |  Action!!! 16/03/08
      6.   Good protest, never accept these islamists 21:34  |  Johnny 16/03/08
      7.   #2 DAVID.... 21:43  |  LJF-CANADA 16/03/08
      8.   David #2 from New Jersey 21:46  |  David 16/03/08
      9.   Increased militant Jewish response inevitable 21:47  |  Observer 16/03/08
      10.   Pogrom 21:48  |  Jeroen de Jager 16/03/08
      11.   You want proportionate, accept proportionate. 21:49  |  Gilad 16/03/08
      12.   HAARETZ - OR BBC? 21:53  |  IMA 16/03/08
      13.   To MOE: The last time I checked the dead 8 kids were Israeli 21:53  |  Dan 16/03/08
      14.   no 2 21:54  |  gary 16/03/08
      15.   "You are the most hateful anti-Jewish, anti-sanity, anti-rational 22:07  |  Andreas 16/03/08
      16.   David Ben Yakov 22:11  |  Philip 16/03/08
      17.   What to do with these Israeli terrorists? 22:19  |  POP 16/03/08
      18.   J`lem will be divided anyway in the future 22:20  |  Jarel 16/03/08
      19.   David Ben Yaacov 22:31  |  Charlie 16/03/08
      20.   LETS MAKE A DEAL that reaches to Peace and Security for ALL...... 22:37  |  ALI 16/03/08
      21.   #2 David ben Jaacov 22:55  |  Labhras 16/03/08
      22.   Terrorists are called rightists! 22:56  |  Atoo 16/03/08
      23.   to #1 23:05  |  Joey 16/03/08
      24.   4.Ali,mistake! Withdraw from ALL occupied territory,which means 23:06  |  lakshmi 16/03/08
      25.   I am ashamed 23:06  |  Northern 16/03/08
      26.   Ali deal! 23:14  |  Avi 16/03/08
      27.   Photo: Right-wing extremists sending their children again 23:17  |  Observer 16/03/08
      28.   Why were they not shot dead? 23:18  |  Dutch Dirk 16/03/08
      29.   to #4 you are dreaming 23:22  |  yoni 16/03/08
      30.   #2 Incitement to kill is a crime. 23:23  |  Ahmed 16/03/08
      31.   to nr 1 and 4 23:24  |  alon frank 16/03/08
      32.   to ALI 23:24  |  SOI 16/03/08
      33.   To Ali: you are sensible, we can make deals with you 23:26  |  Dan 16/03/08
      34.   MOE-shooting kids in a yeshiva is not legitimately striking back 23:27  |  Hannah 16/03/08
      35.   to: MOE 23:34  |  SOI 16/03/08
      36.   More HaAretz lies 23:35  |  Frank 16/03/08
      37.   God bless these people! 23:35  |  non-jewish admirer 16/03/08
      38.   thank god to hear that num 4... deal... num 7 + 1 go die 23:39  |  lior 16/03/08
      39.   to: Dutch Dirk 23:40  |  SOI 16/03/08
      40.   Well said Ali #4 23:42  |  Northern 16/03/08
      41.   #14, OK Ali: I always agreed to that 23:46  |  Rahamim 16/03/08
      42.   mesianic group living in Bible times 23:51  |  ana 16/03/08
      43.   Where are all the postings between 20:50 - 22:31 23:55  |  Jean Van Daem 16/03/08
      44.   # 4 Ali 23:58  |  Bobby 16/03/08
      45.   Another Dier Yassin? 23:58  |  Harold 16/03/08
      46.   MOE 00:00  |  alfredo 17/03/08
      47.   Ali 00:01  |  Brad 17/03/08
      48.   Ali is right 00:01  |  ana 17/03/08
      49.   Palestine is NOT a country 00:02  |  SOI 17/03/08
      50.   David Ben Yaacov, you speak a big game behind a computer son 00:02  |  Palestinian Prince 17/03/08
      51.   Lakshmi 00:05  |  Brad 17/03/08
      52.   #1 No wonder Israelis don`t believe that peace will 00:08  |  MaryRose 17/03/08
      53.   Ali 00:08  |  Free Gilad Shalit 17/03/08
      54.   The enemy is within!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Jews wake up! 00:21  |  Chris 17/03/08
      55.   They won`t be held for long under Israel`s revolving door justice 00:24  |  Chanalau, Tova 17/03/08
      56.   Settlers and their supporters go back home to Europe 00:42  |  anti-racist 17/03/08
      57.   #1 Moe - Yes it is ok to kill Palestinian terrorists everyday 00:53  |  Jon 17/03/08
      58.   Allah Akbar -Elokim Kabir. 01:05  |  Ari 17/03/08
      59.   #4 Ali, ignore #12: Alon Frank is one of the stone throwers 01:15  |  Pace 17/03/08
      60.   Sick to the bones 01:21  |  Angel 17/03/08
      61.   "rightists" 01:39  |  Ben 17/03/08
      62.   As a right-winger I deplore these protests. 01:41  |  Yered Shmuel 17/03/08
      63.   David ben Yaacov: does Eretz Yisrael include... 01:44  |  David James Vickery 17/03/08
      64.   Taking the law into their own hands 01:45  |  ChanahS 17/03/08
      65.   Observer - making stuff up 01:46  |  Hannah 17/03/08
      66.   Moe # 1- Suggested reading for all 01:47  |  ChanahS 17/03/08
      67.   Finally - Fight back man to man take the palestinians down 01:52  |  Johnny 17/03/08
      68.   Palestinian Prince you will eat rice all your life 02:21  |  Johnny 17/03/08
      69.   Giving back land 02:26  |  Daniel 17/03/08
      70.   more power to these protestors 02:29  |  david 17/03/08
      71.   Palestinians do not understand the language of Force