Tuesday's Attack Threatens Co-Existance In The Capital

Tuesday's terror attack in Jerusalem has not only raised tensions in the capital but threatens to harm the co-existance of the city's residents, whether secular or ultra orthodox Jews, or residents of east Jerusalem or Israeli Arabs.

Hours after the bulldozer attack in which 18 people were wounded and the terorist shot dead, a group of ultra orthodox youths beat up two east Jerusalemites as they walked in one of the capital's religious neighborhood. In an attempt to flee the raging mob the two entered a nearby home where a Jewish family was sitting shiva. Family members offered the two shelter and prevented the mob from attacking them.

While the perpetrators of three terror attacks that occurred in Jerusalem this year were holders of Israeli identity cards that allows them freedom of movement, Israeli government ministers were quick to point out that their actions do not represent the entire population of east Jerusalem Arabs. At the same time security officials noted that it will be a much harder challenge for the establishment to crack down on lone terrorists who have no affiliation with any specific terror organization.

Tueday's attack and the violence that followed proves just how fragile the situation is for all Jerusalem residents and the difficult situation all are forced to contend with.07/23/08