Arabs hurled rocks at the Light Rail in two separate attacks Thursday night as the train passed through the northern Jerusalem neighborhood of Shuafat.
None of the passengers were physically injured in either attack, although some were traumatized by the events.
In addition, at least one of the cars was taken out of service due to damage from the attack. The line has lost millions of shekels due to the necessity of having to repair the cars over and over again after they’ve been damaged by rock-throwing Arabs.
Jerusalem District Police are sweeping the area in a search for the attackers.
Last year the Israeli government approved an amendment to the penal code that stiffened the punishment for hurling rocks at motor vehicles.
The amendment allows judges to imprison a convicted attacker for up to 20 years for throwing rocks or other objects at a moving vehicle.
Such an act can and has been deadly in the past; it is generally intended by those who hurl the rocks to cause severe injury, if not the death of the drivers or their passengers.
