A religious family narrowly escaped injuries after its car was attacked by Arab rioters in Jerusalem this week, the religious radio station Radio Kol Chai reported on Friday.

The incident occurred as the family members were making their way home from prayers at the Western Wall. They were caught in a Nakba Day demonstration held at the Damascus Gate area, the report said.

Nakba Day 2012 - Reuters

Nakba Day, or the day of catastrophe, is what the Arabs call the English date of May 15, when the State of Israel was re-established with a declaration of independence in 1948.

One of the family members told Radio Kol Chai that the Arab rioters surrounded the car, kicked the car doors, rocked the car and tried to smash the windows. Miraculously, the attackers were unable to break in and hurt the family members inside, but their car sustained damaged.

“We were terrified because we did not know what’s going to happen,” said the family member. “They tried to open the windows and doors but thank G-d they were locked. I feel that we narrowly escaped being hurt.”

The family has filed a complaint with the police who are investigating the incident. The Jerusalem police confirmed on Friday that a complaint was filed and that the incident is under investigation.

At least four Israeli security personnel were hurt in Nakba Day clashes with PA Arabs in Judea and Samaria this week.

Hundreds of PA residents threw stones and firebombs outside the Ofer Prison adjacent to the Beitunya crossing. The IDF and Israel Police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and other crowd dispersal means.

On Tuesday, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas used a ‘Nakba Day’ speech to accuse Israel of carrying out ethnic cleansing in Jerusalem.

“For decades, Israel has been building settlements in Jerusalem and around it,” Abbas said in a televised speech. “This is done while there is a massive destruction of houses in the city and their original inhabitants are being uprooted on a daily basis.”

Abbas also claimed that Israel intentionally harms the Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, saying, “The Al-Aqsa Mosque is being targeted by the occupation and together with the extremists has become the main target. They are trying to make Muslims and Christians flee the city by imposing heavy taxes, a policy which can only be called ethnic cleansing.”

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By Elad Benari, Canada