Rock-throwers may get 20 years under proposed Israeli law

In an effort to curb months of unrest in Palestinian neighbourhoods in east Jerusalem, Israeli ministers have advanced legislation that will impose a jail sentence of up to 20 years on rock throwers.

At present, Palestinians convicted of throwing stones usually receive about two years as a sentence.

Rock-throwing, directed at Israeli buses, cars and Jerusalem’s light railway, has been a feature of the almost daily unrest which began when an Arab boy was murdered in an east Jerusalem neighbourhood in July by Jewish extremists.

Yesterday, rocks were thrown at an Israeli bus in east Jerusalem and at cars travelling in the Israeli neighbourhood of east Talpiot, built over the 1967 green line border.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu urged members of the Knesset parliament to advance a Bill on the matter, and asserted that aggressive legal measures were necessary to quell “terrorist” activities in the capital.

“Israel is taking vigorous action against terrorists and those who throw stones, petrol bombs and fireworks,” he said. “We will also pass stronger legislation on the issue. All of this is in order to restore quiet and security throughout Jerusalem.”

At the same time Mr Netanyahu promised that Israel will not make any changes to the status quo on the Temple Mount, a site in Jerusalem’s old city sacred to both Jews and Muslims.

Assassination attempt

Last week, Israel closed the compound for a day following the attempted assassination of a leading Jewish activist who advocates the right of Jews to pray at the site.

The Palestinian would-be assailant was killed by Israeli police a few hours later, exacerbating tensions in the capital.

“The Temple Mount is the most sensitive kilometre on Earth,” Mr Netanyahu said. “Alongside our determined stance for our rights, we are determined to maintain the status quo for all the religions in order to prevent an eruption.”

The prime minister repeated his calls for members of his government to show restraint on the issue.

“It is very easy to ignite a religious fire but much harder to extinguish it,” he said.

Despite the call, Moshe Feiglin, a member of Mr Netanyahu’s Likud party, visited the site yesterday, demanding an end to the status quo under which Jewish worship is not allowed on the Temple Mount.

Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas welcomed Mr Netanyahu’s calls for restraint, warning that assaults and provocations by fanatics will lead to “grave consequences”.