IDF soldiers (Illustrative). Photo: IDF.

JNS.org – At least 51 suspected Palestinian terrorists and criminals were arrested in overnight raids in the eastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Isawiyah on Monday, amid a broad security crackdown in Israel’s capital.

The large-scale security operation involved hundreds of Israeli police officers and border guards who arrested dozens of Palestinians suspected of committing acts of terrorism and rioting, among other criminal activity.

Police conducted targeted raids of suspects who were known to have thrown Molotov cocktails and rocks at Israeli security forces and vehicles, and transferred the suspects to the district’s police station for interrogation.

The security forces were joined by officials from the Jerusalem municipality who worked on repairing and improving the neighborhood’s infrastructure while the raids were conducted. The municipality officials inspected the licenses and safety conditions of local businesses, repaired streetlights, cleaned up garbage dumps and graffiti, and replaced street signs.

The two-fold goal of the operation was “on the one hand to act decisively against all those involved in criminal offenses, public disorder and terror, and on the other hand to improve the quality of life for [Isawiyah’s] normative and law-abiding citizens by arresting the outlaws,” the Israel Police said in a statement.

The police also stated the operation was a “direct continuation of the police struggle against violent crime, disturbances and terrorism and against those who take an active part in violent disturbances against civilians and security forces.”