In Februray of 2001 a car bomb exploded in the main street running through the Beth Yisroel neighbourhood Jerusalem. Thankfully there were no major injuries. But Israelis weren't so lucky a year later. On March 2 2002 a palestinian terrorist blew himself up on the corner of Beth Yisroel and Rokach streets killing 11, most of whom were members of an extended family from Rishon Letzion near Tel Aviv.

In August of 2003 an Egged bus on the #2 line coming from the Western Wall to Har Nof, blew up as it was going through our neighbourhood. 23 people were killed in that attack and about 100 injured. The buses coming from The Western wall are usually packed. It exploded just yards away from the bus stop i always use. My presumption is that the bomber came on at the stop just before the Novotel because thats where arab workers from Wadi-el-jos and Sheikh Jarra always get on.