Israeli Cabinet Mulls Response After Deadly Jerusalem Attack

The measures reportedly include seizing assets belonging to terrorists’ families and erecting additional security checkpoints between predominantly Arab and Jewish neighborhoods in the capital.

By JNS | | Topics: War on Terror
The scene of a deadly terrorist attack, in which an Israeli Arab rammed a car into people near the Ramot neighborhood of Jerusalem, Feb. 10, 2023.
The scene of a deadly terrorist attack, in which an Israeli Arab rammed a car into people near the Ramot neighborhood of Jerusalem, Feb. 10, 2023. Photo: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90

(JNS) Israel’s Cabinet was set to meet on Sunday to discuss the possible implementation of a series of counter-terrorism measures in the wake of Friday’s deadly terror attack in Jerusalem.

Among the measures being considered are seizing assets belonging to the families of terrorists, erecting barriers at bus stops and additional security checkpoints between predominantly Arab and Jewish neighborhoods in the capital, as well as a general crackdown on online incitement, according to Channel 12.

Following Friday’s attack, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for a major operation in eastern Jerusalem in the vein of the IDF’s 2002 “Operation Defensive Shield,” which was launched during the Second Intifada to uproot terrorist infrastructure in Palestinian urban areas across Judea and Samaria.

However, a senior government official told Hebrew-language media that Ben-Gvir lacked the authority to approve such a decision, which would need to be made by the Security Cabinet.

Six-year-old Yaakov Israel Paley and 20-year-old Alter Shlomo Lederman were killed instantly on Friday when they were run over by an Arab Israeli driver in Jerusalem’s Ramot neighborhood. Eight-year-old Asher Menachem Paley, Yaakov’s brother, died over Shabbat from wounds sustained in the attack. Three others were injured and are currently being treated at hospitals.

Terrorist Hussein Qaraqa, 31, a resident of the Issawiya neighborhood in eastern Jerusalem, was shot dead during the attack.

Qaraqa’s social media accounts included posts hailing terrorism against Israelis, such as a Facebook post last August praising Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Ziad Nakhaleh.

Police on Sunday morning reportedly sealed the home of Qaraqa’s parents in eastern Jerusalem’s A-Tur, in which he had rented an apartment.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the reinforcement of security forces in Jerusalem.

“Our answer to terrorism is to strike it with all our might and further deepen our hold on our country,” said the premier.

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