Jerusalem Mayor Barkat urges citizens to continue celebrating despite car ramming attack that injured 5.
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat encouraged residents of the capital on Friday not to let terrorism affect their holiday plans in the aftermath of a vehicular attack in the city that left five people wounded earlier in the day.
"Come celebrate in Jerusalem," Barkat said, echoing police sentiment to carry on as usual despite the violent incident which occurred during the Jewish holiday of Purim, when the streets are normally crowded with people. "Especially now."
"We will not allow terrorism to disrupt our lives," said Barkat, who has been mayor since 2008 and has seen a spate of similar attacks in the city late last year, as tensions between Israelis and Palestinians flared.
In October and November, Palestinian drivers rammed their vehicles into pedestrians standing at various light rail stations, attacks which left three people dead and about a dozen injured.
In recent months though, the city has been relatively quiet.
Barkat vowed to continue to fight violence "without compromise," as he commended "the security forces, police units and citizens for their vigilance," and the swift response to Friday\’s incident, which prevented further casualties.
"Our answer to terror is to continue with our daily lives," he said, adding that Purim festivities in the capital would go forward as planned.