Palestinian Minors Stone Police, Egged Bus in Yerushalyim

Palestinian rock-throwing broke out again on Thursday afternoon in Yerushalayim, as local youths attacked a police car and an Egged bus in two separate incidents, according to media reports.

B’chasdei shamayim, there were no injuries, and five Palestinian boys under the age of 16 were arrested.

In the Arab neighborhood of a-Tur, masked Arab youths stoned a police patrol car, according to police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld.

“Officers were patrolling the area in the late afternoon, when a group of Palestinian youths threw stones at a police vehicle,” said Rosenfeld. “None of the officers were injured, and three arrests were made of boys between the ages of 14 and 15.”

Later in the afternoon, an Egged bus en route to the Old City’s Damascus Gate was pelted by rocks thrown by another group of Arab youths, forcing the driver to pull over and stop. The bus sustained minor damage, but the passengers were unhurt.

“Border Police in the area responded immediately, and arrested a 13 and 14-year-old who live in east Yerushalayim,” Rosenfeld said.

“Multiple units are patrolling different neighborhoods to ensure no further incidents take place,” he said, adding that all five Palestinians are being arraigned at Magistrate’s Court.

The Knesset last month passed a temporary law mandating a minimum three-year prison sentence for rock-throwing. Minors convicted of the crime would be sent to a special school until they reach the age when they can be imprisoned.