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Israelis Confiscate Weapons Bound for East Jerusalem Israelis Confiscate Weapons Bound for East Jerusalem
(35 minutes later)
JERUSALEM — Thousands of commando-style knives, swords, fireworks and small devices capable of delivering an electric shock were found hidden in two shipping containers supposedly loaded with Christmas decorations, the Israeli police and customs authority said on Thursday. JERUSALEM — Thousands of commando-style knives, swords, fireworks and small devices capable of delivering an electric shock were found hidden in two shipping containers supposedly loaded with Christmas decorations, the Israeli police and customs authority said Thursday.
The shipment came from China this month and was destined for East Jerusalem, where tensions are heightened amid a dispute over a sensitive holy site in the Old City. The shipment came from China this month and was destined for East Jerusalem, where tensions are heightened amid a dispute over a holy site in the Old City.
The police said they had arrested five Arab citizens of Israel in connection with the case.The police said they had arrested five Arab citizens of Israel in connection with the case.
Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem have carried out a series of deadly attacks against Israelis in recent weeks, and Palestinian youths have clashed with the police there, throwing stones and fireworks directly at the police in what some have termed a “fireworks uprising.”Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem have carried out a series of deadly attacks against Israelis in recent weeks, and Palestinian youths have clashed with the police there, throwing stones and fireworks directly at the police in what some have termed a “fireworks uprising.”
The police said on Thursday that there were a few boxes of holiday decorations in the containers to disguise the nature of the shipment, but a search found more than 5,200 knives and hundreds of thousands of fireworks, many of them powerful. The police said Thursday that there were a few boxes of holiday decorations in the containers to disguise the nature of the shipment, but a search found more than 5,200 knives and hundreds of thousands of fireworks, many of them powerful.
Israel has been cracking down in East Jerusalem in an effort to quell the unrest and violence, and has begun demolishing the homes of Palestinian families whose relatives are accused of attacking Israelis. Four more families were notified late Wednesday that their homes would be knocked down, including those of the two Palestinian men who mounted an attack on a synagogue in West Jerusalem on Tuesday, killing four ultra-Orthodox men at prayer and a police officer. Israel has been cracking down in East Jerusalem in an effort to quell the unrest and violence, and it has begun demolishing the homes of Palestinian families whose relatives are accused of attacking Israelis. Four more families were notified late Wednesday that their homes would be knocked down, including those of the two Palestinian men who mounted an attack on a synagogue in West Jerusalem on Tuesday, killing four ultra-Orthodox men at prayer and a police officer.
A demolition order was also issued to the family of the gunman accused of attempting to kill Yehuda Glick, a Jewish activist who has pushed for Jewish prayer rights at the holy site, known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary. The fourth order was issued to the family of a man who killed a border police officer and a teenage yeshiva student when he rammed them with his van on a busy Jerusalem road this month. A demolition order was also issued to the family of the gunman accused of trying to kill Yehuda Glick, a Jewish activist who has pushed for Jewish prayer rights at the holy site, known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary. The fourth order was issued to the family of a man who killed a border police officer and a teenage yeshiva student when he rammed them with his van on a busy Jerusalem road this month.
The synagogue attackers and the van driver were shot dead by the police at the respective scenes. The man suspected of trying to kill Mr. Glick was shot dead hours later during a police raid on his home. The police say he fired at them.The synagogue attackers and the van driver were shot dead by the police at the respective scenes. The man suspected of trying to kill Mr. Glick was shot dead hours later during a police raid on his home. The police say he fired at them.
Human rights groups have denounced the demolition policy, calling it unfair collective punishment, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said it will continue. The four families were given 48 hours in which to appeal. Human rights groups have denounced the demolition policy, calling it unfair collective punishment, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said it will continue. The four families were given 48 hours to appeal.
Ibrahim Hijazi, the father of Mu’atez Hijazi, the man accused of trying to kill Mr. Glick, said in an interview on Thursday that Israeli security personnel delivered the demolition papers at 10 p.m. on Wednesday. He said he asked the Israelis to show him evidence that his son was behind the attack on Mr. Glick, but has received no answer.Ibrahim Hijazi, the father of Mu’atez Hijazi, the man accused of trying to kill Mr. Glick, said in an interview on Thursday that Israeli security personnel delivered the demolition papers at 10 p.m. on Wednesday. He said he asked the Israelis to show him evidence that his son was behind the attack on Mr. Glick, but has received no answer.
Also on Thursday, the Israeli security services said that a Hamas activist from the West Bank, Hamam Masalmeh, 23, had confessed to deliberately hitting three soldiers with his vehicle in early November. According to an official statement, Mr. Masalmeh tried at first to pass the incident off as a hit-and-run accident. All three soldiers were wounded. Also on Thursday, the Israeli security services said that a Hamas activist from the West Bank, Hamam Masalmeh, 23, had confessed to deliberately hitting three soldiers with his vehicle in early November. According to an official statement, Mr. Masalmeh tried at first to pass the episode off as a hit-and-run accident. All three soldiers were wounded.
Four other Hamas members from the Bethlehem area of the West Bank were charged in a military court with plotting to kill Avigdor Lieberman, Israel’s foreign minister, Israel’s internal security agency said in a statement. The men had planned to purchase a rocket-propelled grenade with which to attack Mr. Lieberman’s car, according to the statement. Four other Hamas members from the Bethlehem area of the West Bank were charged in a military court with plotting to kill Avigdor Lieberman, Israel’s foreign minister, Israel’s internal security agency said in a statement. The men had planned to buy a rocket-propelled grenade with which to attack Mr. Lieberman’s car, according to the statement.