A resident of the Arab neighborhood of Isawiya in eastern Jerusalem was seriously injured overnight Tuesday from a Molotov cocktail thrown at police officers who were operating there.
According to Haaretz, in recent months, police have been carrying out raids in Isawiya every day, with large police forces entering the neighborhood in the afternoon, surveying the area, erecting roadblocks and questioning drivers and pedestrians, then coming back to raid the neighborhood during the night and making arrests.
A Molotov cocktail thrown at the police during today’s early morning raid apparently struck the vehicle of Salem Darvish, 26, a resident of Isawiya.
Police rescued Darvish from the burning vehicle and transported him for medical treatment to Hadassah Mount Scopus, which borders on the Isawiya neighborhood. He was later transferred to Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center, where he remains in serious condition and was placed on life support.
One of the policemen who rescued Darvish was lightly injured and received treatment at the scene.
Police say dozens of officers entered the neighborhood Monday night following a report that local residents had been throwing stones and Molotov cocktails at the Jerusalem-Ma’aleh Adumim highway.
The residents of Isawiya denied the claim, insisting they only threw stones and Molotov cocktails at police after the latter had entered the neighborhood.
The police issued a statement saying that “following the events, an operational activity was begun in the village, while dozens of lawbreakers violated the civil order by throwing stones and fireworks at police and Border Police forces. Eight suspects were arrested during the operation, suspected of involvement in throwing stones at the Ma’aleh Adumim highway and at police forces, and participating in law and order violations at the locale.”