Police told lawmakers there has been a significant decrease in Jews
being harassed in the area since the new station opened
The Knesset Committee on Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora headed
by MK Danny Danon (Likud) toured the new police station on the Mount
of Olives.
“Jews must be able to visit every part of Jerusalem without fear,”
Danon said prior to the tour. “Complaints of Arab violence towards
Jews and Israelis on the Mount of Olives could not be left off the
agenda.”
“The Knesset was asked to set up a police station here and it
answered," he added.
The station, which was established to protect Jews who visit the
Mount of Olives from harrassment and violence by local Arabs, is
staffed by a contingent of 24 police officers, including five
detectives, and a small detachment of border-police officers on hand
to provide escorts for walking tours.
Police Lt. Commander David Hayon, who commands the Mount of Olives
station, said there has been a significant reduction in the
harassment of Jews visiting graves on the Mount of Olives since it
opened just a few weeks ago.
"The public knows we are here and comes to file complaints," Hayon
said. "There is a notable decrease in abuse. We have four new
vehicles, have established observation posts and installed cameras,
and in the future we will have a visitor´s center."
The Ministry of Construction and Housing emphasized that there are
currently 122 active on the Mount of Olives with another 13 to be
added next month. A development project of NIS 20 million has also
been allotted to develop security and tourism.
Deputy Director General Ministry of Housing Moshe Sovron noted that
security guards are also monitoring a the road to the site to ensure
that funerals, mourners, and those visiting graves on the Mount of
Olives are not harassed.
However, Rabbi Elazar Glbstein, the director-general of the First
Burial Society, says he was attacked by Arabs on the road.
